Doesn't active record sanitize input anymore?

[eluser]FinalFrag[/eluser]
I have a textfield on a form.
When I click submit, I retrieve the information in my controller using

Code:

$this->input->post('textfield');

Then I use a model (with active record) to store the input in a database.

My problem is: when I enter

Code:

<b>hello</b><i>world</i>

in the textfield... it doesn't get escaped...

Did they remove the auto-escape feature from CI in 1.7 or am I doing something else wrong?

Thnx