FAQ's
Q. Aside from our alcohol-free hand sanitizer products being safer to use when compared to alcohol-based products, and the fact that Soapopular is 2x-3x more cost effective when compared to legacy, alcohol-based products such as Purell, why use
Soapopular
brand alcohol-free, rinse free, fragrance free hand sanitizers vs.
traditional alcohol-based products?
A.
i. When recognizing that proper hand hygiene is the best way to mitigate exposure to cold and flu, and the spread of germs, bacteria and viruses, we believe that washing hands with the appropriate soap and water is the first line of defense. But we find ourselves in situations where washing with soap and water isn't convenient.
There are two choices to make when selecting a hand sanitizer. The legacy, alcohol-based, icky gel, flammable, toxic, and funny smelling product, or alternative, non-alcohol products such as Soapopular .
Soapopular soft foam formula works better than alcohol-based gels; our alcohol-free formula is well-documented with regard to effectiveness at killing a wide spectrum of pathogens. Unlike alcohol-based products, our antiseptic formula is non-irritating, the rinse-free antibacterial penetrates dirt (alcohol does not penetrate dirt) and it provides extended persistency, whereas alcohol stops being effective within seconds after applying.ii. Soapopular is antiseptic and hypoallergenic; it can be safely applied to scrapes and cuts without causing sting.
iii. Soapopular is 2x-3x MORE COST EFFECTIVE than alcohol-based gels. This means that if comparing bottle sizes, a 3.4oz bottle of Soapopular will last upwards of three times longer vs. alcohol based. products. Why? Because (i) alcohol based products lose their effectiveness within seconds after applying, and (ii) Soapopular foam format dispenses the recommended volume for each application.
Unlike alcohol-based products within both consumer and institutional settings (Purell, GermX and others), Soapopular does not introduce dry and irritated skin.
iv. Soapopular is non-flammable, non-toxic and PROTECTS the skin. On the other hand, alcohol-based products are notorious for destroying protective skin cells, they are infamous for introducing flash point (flammability) risk, and they can cause infection, whether as a result of dry/irritated skin, or if applied to open cuts or abrasions. For kids or adults, this is a sensation that is Not
Popular.
Q. Where is Soapopular manufactured?
In cGMP and FDA certified aseptic filling facilities that are continuously monitored and conform to ISO 13485 guidelines. Q. Why
does the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and, as a result, certain "local public officials", seem to "recommend"
alcohol-based gels when washing with soap and water is not available, but these "experts" make
little mention of safer, equally-effective, NON-ALCOHOL hand sanitizer products that have come to market in recent
years?
In September of 2009, the CDC issued a memorandum acknowledging that public schools and universities throughout the country have since come to their own conclusions re: the inappropriateness of alcohol-based sanitizers and CDC now admits that those conclusions have caused hundreds of schools to systematically prohibit/ban alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and to embrace non-alcohol hand sanitizing products. Worth pointing out to the reader, these decisions to ban alcohol hand sanitizers, and to embrace non-alcohol products have been made in the midst of one of the most publicized pandemics in modern history.
The excerpt to CDC's memo:
Influenza may spread via contaminated hands or inanimate objects that become contaminated with influenza viruses. CDC recommends that students and staff be encouraged to wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing... If soap and water are not available, and if alcohol-based products are not allowed in the school, other HAND SANITIZERS THAT DO NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL MAY BE USEFUL..."A small step for non-alcohol hand sanitizer makers, but a large step for a government agency that is as difficult to turn as a battleship might be.
CDC Addresses Issue of Non-Alcohol Hand SanitizersQ. What is Soapopular primary ingredient?
A. Soapopular active ingredient is Benzalkonium Chloride (aka BAC), long considered by medical professionals for being one of the safest organic compounds. BAC has been used for the past 40 years in a wide variety of consumer and health care-related antiseptic and antibacterial products, including Bactine antispetic, Johnson & Johnson's BandAid brand foaming antiseptic, and most spermicidal foams. Soapopular Ingredients: Active Ingredient: Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13% Inactive ingredient: Aqua Cocamidopropyl Betaine Propylene Glycol Glycerin Cetrimonium Chloride Cocamidopropylamine Oxide Triethanolamine Citric Acid
A Comparison of Commonly Used Surface Disinfectants Alcohol-, Phenol-, Chlorine-, and Quaternary Amine-Based Disinfectants By Lauren Crawford, BS; Zhi-Jian Yu, PhD; Erin Keegan, BS; and Tina Yu, MS.
Quaternary amines such as benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride are commonly used in small concentrations in after-dinner skin wipes, skin disinfectants as well as in ophthalmic, cosmetic and food preservatives. The final report on the safety assessment of benzethonium chloride (diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride) and benzalkonium chloride has been issued by the CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association) and concluded that the compound is safe at concentrations of .5% and below in cosmetics applied to the skin, and safe at .02% for cosmetics used in the eye area.
Q. Why is
Soapopular better than alcohol-based products?
A. While not a "drug" Soapopular is effective against a broad spectrum of commonly transmitted germs and viruses within seconds. Soapopular kills a broad spectrum of common germs that may cause illness. Germ kill has been demonstrated in laboratory tests of common bacteria, viruses and fungi. The FDA does not currently allow makers of instant hand sanitizers to make claims against specific types of pathogens due to FDA concern that consumers will presume that the particular illness caused by these germs will be completely prevented through use of the product. Because germs can be spread in a number of ways, no maker of these products can provide complete guarantees. That said, we maintain that proper hand hygiene is one of the most important tools to prevent the spread of illness. This is why the CDC and various other organizations recommend hand-washing or use of appropriate hand sanitizer, when soap and water are not available.
A. Greater Effectiveness. Alcohol-based products lose their effectiveness within seconds of being applied to the skin; Soapopular remains active well after being applied to the hands (or feet) and leaves the skin feeling soft. Soapopular is both antiseptic and hypoallergenic; a benefit not included with alcohol-based products.
A. Safer4Kids - Alcohol-Free, Rinse Free, Dye Free and Fragrance Free Foaming Soapopular is non-toxic and not dangerous for kids or adults (when properly applied).
Q.
Does Soapopular contain Soap?
A. No.
Q. Is
Soapopular
better than antibacterial soap?
A. Independent lab tests have demonstrated that Soapopular is more effective against a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria than any other antimicrobial active ingredients found in these soaps.
Q.
How often should Soapopular be used?
A. As frequently as you like.
Q.
Will Soapopular stain floors, carpets, fabrics or other surfaces?
A. Nope. And our products will NOT cause nail polish to be removed either. Alcohol-based products are infamous for staining, and, as widely known throughout the hospital industry, alcohol hand sanitizers, when dripped on to the floor, actually break up floor wax; is that what you want to put into your hands?
Q.Does Soapopular damage jewelry?
A. No.
Q. Why do
we say Alcohol-Based Products Are Bad?
A.
i. Toxic. According to a 2007 report published by the American
Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2006 there were approximately 12,000
incidents of alcohol-poisoning directly attributed to alcohol-based hand
sanitizers. Not Popular.
ii.
Flammable. You do not need to test this at home to appreciate the fact that
alcohol gels, foams and sprays are flammable. A quick search on YouTube.com will
reveal any number of very creative ways in which kids, teens and others are
re-purposing alcohol hand sanitizers. Its no wonder that the FDA, the CDC, EPA
and other government agencies all insert warnings into their respective
documents cautioning against where and how alcohol-based (and fragrance-based)
cleaning and sanitizing products should be used.
iii. Risk of infection. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
products can actually introduce infection, including when applied to open cuts.
According to the Chief Medical Officer of Kalamazoo County, Michigan:
..I don't
know why we always seem to stress alcohol-based hand sanitizes. It may be to
keep public education easier/ less complicated. I personally don't like them
because I have eczema and it really dries and inflames my skin (increasing my
risk for infection!)...
Q. What does the US FDA say about Soapopular?
A.
In a letter dated July 15 2009, postmarked July 20, and received by us on or about July 25, we were advised by the US Federal Drug Administration that this website "violated FDA monographs which prohibits any reference, any claim, or any assertion, including the public availability of [Soapopular] independent lab studies that reflect the efficacy of the product against specific pathogens, including and “most importantly” reference to the virus that has received global media focus over the past four months."
The FDA “warning letter”, and subsequent conference calls that we initiated with FDA staff members advised us that, unless a hand sanitizer product is an “approved drug” as defined by the FDA, there can be no use of any text or phrases within the website content or meta tag architecture utilizing phrases or terminology that reference a product’s efficacy with regard to any specific pathogens, including the virus that is currently creating global media attention, and the cause of a continuing pandemic alert by World Health Organization.
To the best of our knowledge NO HAND SANITIZERS of ANY TYPE are classified as ‘approved drugs’ by the FDA.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of other manufacturers and marketers of hand sanitizer products have incorporated text and key words within their website meta tags (including the website used by "Purell", the industry's largest manufacturer of alcohol-based sanitizers and the company with the largest lobbying budget), and each of those sites would seemingly be in violation of FDA guidelines. We necessarily and immediately took all corrective action requested by the FDA, and we removed all phrases and key word meta tag files within this site that incorporated the names of any pathogens, and we removed any references, and/or inferences that would cause an uninformed person to draw an inappropriate conclusion with the regard to the efficacy and independent laboratory tests relating to our hand sanitizer product.
We advised FDA of these corrections on August 3, 2009, and on August 4, we were instructed that to be in full compliance, we needed to remove a link to a third party blog that includes discussions and news articles regarding the dangers of alcohol-based hand sanitizer products vs. the features/benefits of non-alcohol hand sanitizer products.
The link to the hand hygiene blog was removed immediately, and on August 5, we made this known to FDA via email; consistent with the ongoing exchange of emails that had taken place over the course of the prior several days.
On August 14, 2009 FDA updated its website, and while FDA has advised that no supplemental letter will be published by FDA on its website to reflect the fact that MGS Brands has in fact taken all corrective measures required, and has fully addressed the 'warning letter', the update to FDA's website, specifically within the section "fraudulent product list" signifies that MGS Brands, MGS Soapopular and Soapopular, Inc. is NOT in violation of any FDA monographs, and that we are collectively in compliance with all FDA guidelines.
In full accordance with FDA guidelines, we are permitted to provide additional information about our products to individuals that request such data.
Q. Under what circumstances and settings should Soapopular be used?
A. First and foremost we adamantly recommend frequent hand washing with proper soap and water as the primary means to best protect yourself and your children against the spread of germs and viruses. With respect to MRSA and similar bacteria, we also strongly recommend proper bandaging of open cuts and abrasions.
But we all know that washing with soap and water isn't always convenient, and we all know that germs and bacteria can be transmitted in virtually any type of environment whether merely standing next to someone on a bus, shaking hands in a business meeting, using a cell phone, typing on a keyboard, or simply touching an object.
There are hundreds of circumstances that can expose you to commonly transmitted bacteria, germs, virus and fungi, and rinse-free Soapopular can help protect you when a sink with soap and water is not immediately accessible.
Q. Aside from proper hand hygiene strategies that help to protect against cold and flu, and other communicable germs, bacteria and viruses, what specific settings, situations, and uses will Soapopular travel size wall mount dispensers be ideal for?
A.
Schools, BackpacksDay Care Facilities
Health Care Venues (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics)
Cancer patients and those with low immunity
Traveling via public transportationRemoving tobacco odor from hands!
Sports stadiums and arenas
Movie theatres
Playgrounds
Public restrooms
Shopping malls
Supermarkets
Tourist Attractions
Cruise Ships
Office environments
Business conferences
Escalator handles
Door handles
Playground and sports equipment
Touching computer keyboards
Public phones/friends phone
Restaurants (silverware, glassware)
Arcades and entertainment centers
Correctional facilities
Construction sites
Battle fields
First aid kits, natural disasters,floods, water outages
Summer Camps
Camping and Hiking
Q.
What happens if Soapopular is accidentally ingested?
A. Soapopular is non-toxic, but in such circumstances, we recommend contacting a health care professional or local Poison Control Center for guidance.
Q. What
size dispensers is Soapopular available in?
A. 1.1oz, 3.4oz, (airplane compliant) 8.45oz, 18.5oz, 1 Gal refill containers and a selection of wall-mount dispensers appropriate for schools, government and corporate offices, and health care venues.
Q. How
much does it cost?
A. MSRP for the most popular consumer sizes 3.4oz and 8.45 oz is $3.49 and $5.49, respectively. Cost per dime-sized application equates to less than a penny per day; a tiny investment to help keep you protected against potentially dangerous germs and viruses.
Q. Where
can Soapopular be purchased?
A. At more than 2000 leading retailers throughout the United States, including select Target and Wal-Mart locations; in Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and a continuously increasing number of EU countries. Soapopular can also be purchased on-line via www.SoapyUSA.com, or at Walmart.com
Q. Does
Soapopular provide special discounts for educational facilities and
non-profits?
A. Of course. Schools and charitable organizations enjoy up to 20% discounts (MINIMUM ORDER qty applies) vs. listed retail price. Please call us so we can personally lend a hand! 877.495.5678
flu.
Q. Who can
I contact for more information?
A. Simply call 877-495-5678 and a Soapy Sanitizing Squad Member will be happy to assist you.
Or email
MGS Soapopular via
mgs@mgsmata.com
Flu Season 
