Antimicrobial vs. Antibacterial
In today’s fight, consumers are looking for any product that can help them combat the spread of infection. We’ve taken our wagers against these two germ-fighting labels and researched their properties to better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Which one is the true winner? Let’s take a look…
Antibacterial products simply do what the name says – anything that destroys bacteria, suppresses its growth or ability to reproduce. When it comes to antibacterial soap, there is a long list of chemical ingredients (like triclosan and triclocarban) in addition to the traditional soap contents of fat, oil, and lye. There is no evidence that triclosan and triclocarban improve health or prevent disease, and in fact, these chemicals may present a health and environmental risk.
On the other side of the ring, antimicrobial products consist of substances or mixtures of substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms. This includes bacteria in addition to viruses or fungi such as mold. Unlike antibacterial products, antimicrobial products are strictly regulated. Manufacturers of antimicrobial products must provide EPA the product label and data on chemistry, toxicology, and efficacy, in order to obtain an EPA registration, which is required before marketing the product.
At this time, there is no evidence that supports antimicrobial products specifically kill or slow the spread of COVID-19. However, historically these types of products have proven effective against other known viruses. We do know that COVID-19 is a virus and not bacteria thus making antimicrobial our winner! It’s an added bonus that the EPA has to approve these items before they hit the shelves, too.
When shopping, keep an eye out for products that read antimicrobial or microban. We’ve even started a list of suggested products below to help you get started with your search…
