Despite "antibacterial" and "anti-germ" soaps sounding like the ultimate products for bathroom hygiene, recent US Food and Drug Administration tests have shown that there is no evidence to support the claims made for such products.And they might have harmful side effects - the possibility prompting the US watchdog to order manufacturers to remove "antibacterial" soaps containing any of 19 now blacklisted ingredients from US shelves within a year.The FDA has blacklisted the ingredients, which include triclosan and triclocarbon, saying they could be harmful and have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.The use of these ingredients is believed to be contributing to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.The manufacturers of the soaps were asked by the FDA in 2013 to show that they were more effective in controlling bacteria than ordinary soap - they failed to do so.Triclosan, an ingredient of Colgate Total toothpaste, and triclocarbon - both of which are common in "hand sanitisers" - are believed to act in a similar way to hormones and might play a role in early onset puberty, poor sperm quality, infertility and obesity.In South Africa, two well-known brands of antibacterial soap contain triclocarbon.Dettol Hygiene promises the "best ever protection" and Protex soap, produced by Colgate Palmolive, claims to "protect against 99.9% of germs".The Public Health Association of SA, which could not be reached for comment, endorses Protex soap.Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Dettol soap and hand washes, said the company was not affected by the FDA ruling because none of its US products contain any of the 19 banned ingredients."For countries outside the US, we [comply] with local regulatory requirements," the company said.Lifebuoy antibacterial soap does not contain any of the 19 ingredients banned by the FDA.Unilever spokesman Barry Dijoe said: "In 2015, we started replacing triclosan and triclocarbon in our Lifebuoy soap with a range of alternative natural and nature-inspired antibacterial ingredients such as silver, which is widely recognised for its antibacterial properties."Colgate Palmolive did not respond to repeated requests for comment.Ordinary soap retails at about R7 for a 175g bar. Antibacterial soaps cost as much as R13.Whereas ordinary soap gets rid of germs by washing them away, antibacterial soaps are marketed as germ killers.A study, the results of which were published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy in September last year, compared the antibacterial properties of soaps.The antibacterial ingredients of the "anti-germ" soaps did kill bacteria - but only after nine hours.The conclusion of the study was that "antibacterial soap containing triclosan (0.3%) was no more effective than plain soap at reducing bacterial contamination in real-life conditions".The FDA ruling does not affect hand sanitisers, hand wipes and the antiseptic products used in hospitals.Department of Health spokesman Joe Maila said the department would closely evaluate the decision of the FDA in the context of South Africa...