I enjoy reading Dr Axe’s articles, as I find him to be open-minded, strong in his research and facts, and he makes a lot of sense. Recently I was reading an article he wrote about Triclosan, and the dangers of this chemical. Here is an excerpt he wrote, taken from his website with his permission (you can read more on his website here draxe.com/fda-bans-triclosan/ ):

WITH MOUNTAINS OF DATA SUGGESTING THE ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP CHEMICAL TRICLOSAN IS A TOXIC RIPOFF AND COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY FOR EVERYDAY USE, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FINALLY ANNOUNCED IT’S BANNING THE INGREDIENT IN CONSUMER HAND AND BODY WASHES. AS THE FDA BANS TRICLOSAN AND RELATED ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP CHEMICALS, MANUFACTURERS HAVE ONE YEAR TO REMOVE IT AND 18 OTHER ANTIBACTERIAL INGREDIENTS FROM PRODUCTS (OR PULL PRODUCTS CONTAINING THESE INGREDIENTS FROM STORE SHELVES). – DR. AXE

I am all for getting rid of the negative in our lives, so I did some research into Triclosan.

There are many products still containing Triclosan in South Africa, as can be read in Megan Power’s very informative and updated article in the Sunday Times. Read it here: www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/stnews/powerreport/2016/09/11/Power-Report-Victory-for-consumer-as-US-SA-move-to-crack-down-on-soap-compounds

Here are other areas where Triclosan can be found, as can be read on the following website in an article by Lisa Kaplan Gordon of Care2:  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/28-surprising-places-triclosan-hides.html

Triclosan is an antimicrobial recently banned by Minnesota and under scrutiny by theFDA for altering hormone regulation and fostering the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It’s found in about 75 percent of liquid antibacterial soaps and 30 percent of soap bars.

But it’s hard to know if the chemical lurks in the hygiene, beauty and food prep products you use every day. Some manufacturers either bury the chemical in fine print on labels, or don’t list it at all, hiding triclosan in with other “anti-microbial” compounds including:

• Microban
• Cloxifenolum
• Lexol-300
• Additive B
• Irgasan (DP 300 or PG 60)
• Ster-Zac.

Colgate Total toothpaste has drawn fire for containing triclosan. But many other popular items contain the chemical. Some manufacturers are reformulating products to remove triclosan, but it’s hard to know which are now triclosan-free.

Here are products that could contain the chemical, according to Beyond Pesticides. Make sure you check labels before buying.

• Yoga mats
• Liquid and bar soap
• Toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes
• Lip gloss, foundation, mascara, moisturizers
• Cutting boards
• Ice cream scoops
• Deodorants
• Antiseptics, sunburn aids, medicated sprays
• Acne medications
• Socks and underwear
• Pencils, binders and scissors with Microban protection
• Humidifiers
• Ear plugs
• Sports helmets
• Wallpaper
• Paint
• Paper towels

For more in depth information,  look at this list compiled by Beyond Pesticides,  http://www.beyondpesticides.org/programs/antibacterials/triclosan/products-containing-triclosan

Products Containing Triclosan

DISCLAIMER: Due to public pressure, many major manufacturers have quietly begun reformulating their products without triclosan. Product formulations may change without notice. Below is a small sampling of products formulated with, or used to be formulated with triclosan and is not to be considered a comprehensive list. Remember to always refer to product labels to determine whether triclosan is contained in your product. Some retail outlets may still carry older formulations. Look out for labels that state: “antimicrobial protection.” Some antibacterial soaps may use triclosan’s cousin, triclocarban, in place of triclosan.

Soap: Dial® Liquid handsoap and bodywash; Tea Tree Therapy™ Liquid Soap; Clearasil® Daily Face Wash; Dermalogica® Skin Purifying Wipes; DermaKleen™ Antibacterial Lotion Soap; CVS Antibacterial Soap, Ajax Antibacterial Dishsoap, Kimcare Antibacterial Clear Soap, Bath and Body Works Antibacterial Hand Soaps, Gels and Foaming Sanitizers.
Dental Care: Colgate Total®; Breeze™ Daily Mouthwash; Reach® Antibacterial Toothbrush
Cosmetics: Garden Botanika® Powder Foundation; Mavala Lip Base; Movate® Skin Litening Cream HQ; Paul Mitchell Detangler Comb, Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss, Babor Volume Mascara, Phytomer Perfect Visage Gentle Cleansing Milk, Phytomer Hydracontinue Instant Moisture Cream, Bath and Body Works Antibacterial Moisturizing Lotions.
Deodorant: Arm and Hammer® Essentials Natural Deodorant; Queen Helene® Tea Trea Oil Deodorant and Aloe Deodorant; DeCleor Deodorant Stick; Epoch® Deodorant with Citrisomes.
First Aid: SyDERMA® Skin Protectant plus First Aid Antiseptic; Healwell Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint; Solarcaine® First Aid Medicated Spray; Nexcare™ First Aid, Skin Crack Care; : Universal Cervical Collar with Microban.
Kitchenware: Farberware® Microban Cutting Boards; Franklin Machine Products FMP Ice Cream Scoop SZ 20 Microban; Hobart Semi-Automatic Slicer; Chix® Food Service Wipes with Microban; Compact Web Foot® Wet Mop Heads.
Other Personal Care Products: Murad Acne Complex® Kit, ®; Diabet-x™ Cream; Scunci Microban Comb, Sportslick Pocket Slick.
Clothes: Biofresh® socks, undergarments, tops and bottoms.
Office and School Products: Ticonderoga® Pencils with Microban Protection, Avery® Touchgaurd View Binders, C-line® products, Clauss® cutting instruments, Costco® products, Sharp® printing calculators. Westcott® scissors
Other: Bionare® Cool Mist Humidifier; Deciguard AB® Antimicrobial Ear Plugs; Bauer® Re-Akt hockey helmet and 7500 hockey helment; Miller Paint Acro Pure Interior Paint; Holmes Foot Buddy™ HMH120U Antimicrobial Foot Buddy Foot Warmer, Blue Mountain Wall Coverings, California Paints®, Davis Paint® Perfection, Hirschfield’s Paint®,O’Leary Paint®, EHC AMRail Escalator Handrails, Dupont™ Air Filters, Winix Dehumidifiers, J Cloth® towels, select Quickie cleaning products, Kimberly Clark® WYPALL X80 Towels, Canopy® kitchen towels, ALUF Plastics®, BioEars earplugs, Petmate® LeBistro feeders and waterers, Infantino cart covers and baby carriers, Oreck XL®, Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum™, NuTone® Central Vacuum systems, Rival® Seal-A-Meal® Vacuum Food Sealer, CleenFreek SportsHygiene Yoga Mat, Resilite Sports Products, Rubbermaid® Coolers, Stufitts sports gear, Venture Products® fitness mats, Custom Building Products, DAP®Kwik Seal Plus®, Laticrete, Niasa Biquichamp® mortar grout and sealant, ProAdvanced Products.

I will be posting reviews on a few of the products spoken about, such as Protex Hygiene Soap, Colgate Total Toothpaste (update: to read my review on Colgate click here) and various Dis-Chem products. Look out for them and reviews on other Triclosan-Free products.

Now for the positive: 

I have managed to find a product, namely a handwash, that is Triclosan-free, and that is the Spar Germex Handwash. See the photograph below that clearly shows that it does not contain Triclosan. 

Well done to Spar! It works very well, smells great and comes in lovely colours.