Consumers must have been spending far more than they needed to in an effort to be very very clean by buying antibacterial soaps. At last some action has been taken to end this notion that we're getting cleaner if we use an antibacterial soap than if we used ordinary soap and water.
From the NEJM Journal Watch, September 6, 2016:
Triclosan and Other Antibacterial Ingredients Banned from OTC Soaps
By the Editors
Over-the-counter hand soaps and body washes can no longer contain certain antibacterial ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, the FDA announced on Friday.
Despite the abundant use of these 19 ingredients in consumer products, the manufacturers have not shown that these ingredients are more effective than nonantibacterial soap and water for illness prevention, the FDA said. In addition, they have not shown that these ingredients are safe for frequent, long-term use — recent data suggest that widespread antiseptic use could increase bacterial resistance.
The new rule doesn't apply to hand sanitizers or antibacterial wipes.