Is it safe to use an antimicrobial cutting board with triclosan?
Avoid cutting boards with built-in triclosan. Food prep does not need an embedded biocide.
What to know
Some plastic cutting boards are sold as antimicrobial. That can mean triclosan or another biocide built into the board.
The promise sounds useful, but a cutting board is a food-contact surface. It gets cut, scraped, washed, and reused. Knife grooves matter more than marketing. A dirty board with antimicrobial claims is still a dirty board.
Choose wood, bamboo, or plain plastic without antimicrobial treatment. Keep one board for produce and one for raw meat. Wash promptly, dry upright, and replace deeply grooved plastic.
What the research says
EPA says triclosan is an antimicrobial active ingredient used as a materials preservative. EPA also notes possible indirect dietary exposure from triclosan in items that can include cutting boards.
A 2025 Environ Health Perspect study found higher childhood urinary triclosan levels were linked with higher reported eczema and allergic rhinitis risk.
The takeaway is simple: you do not need triclosan in a cutting board. Use a plain board and clean it well.