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2005 food code says soap used for handwashing should be antibacterial:
a. True.
b. False.

User Almas
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The claim that the 2005 food code requires antibacterial soap for handwashing is false. Antibacterial soaps have not been proven to be more effective than traditional soap, and their overuse can lead to increased antibiotic resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the 2005 food code requires soap used for handwashing to be antibacterial is false. In fact, there has been no conclusive evidence from over 40 years of research by the FDA that antibacterial soaps containing ingredients like triclosan provide significant health benefits over traditional soap. Furthermore, the overuse of antibacterial soap could lead to increased infection risks due to the development of triclosan-resistant bacterial strains, like Salmonella enterica. In 2013, the FDA required soap manufacturers to prove that antibacterial soaps are significantly more effective than traditional soaps by 2016, or they would have to remove these products from the market. This aligns with the fact that soaps are not classified as disinfectants and that agents like mercury-based compounds are no longer favored as preservatives and antiseptics due to their health risks.

User Luc DUZAN
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