In the heat of health consumption, anti-bacterial products appear on the market as springs of rain, and consumers tend to buy them when they see the prominent words “through anti-bacterial testing” in their packaging, conscious that they can be used in all scenarios as long as they are tested. However, this is a highly misleading area of error that could lead us astray in the pursuit of health.
Antibacterial tests are based on scientific assessments of specific standards and conditions and are designed to measure the ability of the product to suppress or kill bacteria in a simulated conventional use context. In the case of a plastic vegetable plate that has been tested against bacteria, laboratory tests typically simulate the daily temperature and humidity of the kitchen, select bacteria associated with food contamination, such as common coli and yellow grapes, and place the plate in a prescribed bacterial culture environment to observe its antibacterial performance. When the plate is effective in reducing bacterial growth and meeting the corresponding standards, it is certified for testing and provides a certain level of anti-bacterial protection for consumers when cooking in the kitchen.
But real-life scenarios are complex and diverse, far beyond the laboratory environment. Kitchen and bathrooms are two distinct antibacterial “fields of battle”. Kitchen oils are heavy and the temperature is high, and food residues provide rich nutrients for bacteria; baths are damp and hot, and aqueous microorganisms, such as fungus, are breeding. A rag designed for the kitchen and tested through antibacterial tests, which, if used for bathroom cleaning, may be diluted or rendered ineffective in a high-moisture environment, not only does it fail to inhibit the growth of fungus, but it has become a new site for bacterial reproduction as a result of its prolonged damp state.
The medical scene is more of a very high and unique anti-bacterial requirement. Surgery equipment is subject to rigorous antibacterial testing and is directed at high-risk strains such as drug-resistant bacteria and anaerobics that may occur during the operation, and the process of disinfection is accurate to every fine point. If generic antibacterial products are used for medical care, such as daily antibacterial towels to wipe wounds, because they fail to meet medical standards such as sterile, low irritation, they may introduce fungi, cause infection, slow healing, and even have serious consequences.
Children ‘ s playgrounds also have unique considerations. Children are relatively weak immune and toy-prone to mouth and sweat, and anti-bacterial products need to be both safe and effective. Toys tested through conventional antibacterial tests that contain some potentially irritating antibacterial elements, while not harmful to adults, may stimulate a child ‘ s tender skin and induce allergies such as rashes, itching, etc., while antibacterial effects are not sustainable if the toy is designed in such a way as to take fully into account the characteristics of the child ‘ s use, such as wrestling and cleaning.
This misdeed poses many potential hazards to consumers. At the family level, the misuse of antibacterial products can lead to uncontrolled growth of bacteria and increase the risk of family illness; in the medical and public health fields, failure to distinguish between the application of a product may endanger the life and health of the patient and trigger public health events.
In order to get out of the wrong area, consumers need to “do something” when they choose to buy anti-bacterial products. Read product instructions carefully to understand their design use and the applicable environment; look at the test reports and look at whether the bacterial species and simulated environments match actual needs. Regulatory authorities should promote the classification of antibacterial products, clarify the scope of application of different scenarios, strengthen market supervision and prevent products from being “cross-border” misleading consumers; and industry associations should also play a leading role in promoting knowledge of antibacterial resistance, helping consumers to make informed choices, allowing antibacterial products to be as effective and healthy as possible in the appropriate scenario.