The Star Tribune’s March 11 editorial supporting state legislation to ban the ingredient triclosan — found in a number of antibacterial soaps and body washes — contributes to a parade of misinformation and distortion that we have sadly seen in Minnesota as of late. Triclosan is the most reviewed and researched active ingredient used in antibacterial soaps and body washes. Antibacterial wash products with triclosan provide a key public health benefit by killing harmful germs on the skin that can make us sick (compared with non-antibacterial soap), as reported by 2011 research in the Journal of Food Protection. Triclosan’s use in antibacterial soaps is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Yet proponents of the legislative ban on triclosan seemingly forget or ignore this reality. Read more.