FDA proposes ban on most powdered gloves

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 21 announced a proposal to ban most powdered gloves in the US. The proposed ban applies to powdered surgeons' gloves, powdered patient examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating surgeons' gloves.

Powdered gloves pose an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury to healthcare providers, patients, and other individuals who are exposed to them, the FDA says.

Because these risks cannot be corrected through new or updated labeling, the FDA is moving forward with the proposal to ban these products, which, if finalized, would remove them from the marketplace completely.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a proposal to ban most powdered gloves in the United States. While use of these gloves is decreasing, they pose an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury to health care providers, patients and other individuals who are exposed to them, which cannot be corrected through new or updated labeling.