California Bill Banning Antibacterial Soap Faces Escalating Opposition

A bill advancing in the California Legislature that would ban the sale of antibacterial consumer hand soap and body wash, beginning in 2028, faces escalating opposition from national and state business groups, amid clashing views about whether the products provide more protection than regular soap. The bill, AB 916 by Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose), represents a “critical step in protecting the public from hand soap and body wash ingredients that have known human health risks and environmental harm and...