Hand Sanitizer Update

Germ fighting claims said to often be exaggerated.

The Wall Street Journal (12/16, Bialik) reports that the numerous claims found on products touting a 99.9% success rate in killing germs and bacteria are typically based on lab results as opposed to real-world usage. Jason Tetro, a microbiologist at the University of Ottawa, says that the laboratory in which many of hand-sanitizers are tested is "the optimal environment for the hand sanitizer to work." In addition, current regulations only require companies to prove that the products are effective against a handful of microbes. The Journal points out that the FDA forbids companies making claims on over-the-counter products, and notes the agency's recent crackdown on companies making false claims relating to the H1N1 virus.

Citation: AMA