Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 30/00) - In relation to food safety, health officials say personal hygiene is the number one rule.

"We don't support the use of those anti-microbial soaps. If you're just using good sanitation procedures, you shouldn't need it," said Brad Colpitts, regional senior environmental health officer with the Stanton Regional Health Board.

"I think some marketing person has created a perception that there's a need for it, so it sells soap," he said.

He explained that such soaps being advertised are not even permitted in hospitals for regular use.

"It is only in the most critical care areas of the hospital where you find any anti-microbial soap," Colpitts said.

For one thing, it's a waste of money, he said. Also, it would only be under extraordinary circumstances where a doctor would suggest to their patients to use the anti-bacterial soap, he added.

"I think a lot of people are out there spending money on this stuff and maybe with a little false sense of security in relationship to what they're getting."

Another concern for some experts is that using antibacterial soap may lead to the development of bacteria resistant strains.