"Triclosan Fears Lead To Alternative Soaps"

"CleanWell's hand soaps promise to slay germs, and foam and ooze - just as soap should. But unlike many antibacterial soaps, the ones from this young San Francisco company and a growing number of other manufacturers lack a potentially harmful chemical: triclosan."

"Triclosan was created more than 40 years ago as a surgical scrub for hospitals. Now it appears in soaps, detergents, skin cleansers, deodorants, toothpastes and dishwashing liquids. It is so widespread that it has been detected in three-fourths of Americans over age 5, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Stephanie M. Lee reports for the San Francisco Chronicle January 1, 2013.