A recent article in the Los Angeles Times revealed, according to a new study, that the toxic compound triclosan, commonly found in toothpaste and other consumer products such as cosmetics, children’s toys and yoga mats, “could cause adverse effects on colonic inflammation and colon cancer.”
In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a ban on triclosan in soaps and hand sanitizers, because the agency was unable to prove it safe. We use soap on our hands — but toothpaste goes in our mouths. The FDA still allows the harmful compound to be used in toothpaste and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t taken action to get rid of triclosan in other consumer goods. The compound is also used in paint, carpeting and kitchenware.
The good news? Major consumer product giant Procter & Gamble (P&G), the maker of Crest and Oral-B toothpastes, announced that it has phased out the use of triclosan in its products. Other toothpaste manufacturers are doing the same thing. But not all are getting rid of triclosan, and a lot of people don’t even know what triclosan is, let alone know to check to see if their toothpaste has triclosan in it. When many popular toothpaste brands are already taking the initiative to remove the toxic compound from their products, the FDA needs to step up and take action to ban its use in all toothpaste to protect our public health.
