TOPLINE
A good year for Reckitt Benckiser, the producer of Lysol, has gotten even better with the news that two versions of the cleaning product have been proven effective in killing the novel coronavirus in lab testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Cleaning products have been in high-demand.
KEY FACTS
The EPA on July 1 released a list of 431 disinfectants that it believed would be effective against coronavirus that were tested against a harder-to-kill virus or another type of human coronavirus that is similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, but it had yet to test any specifically against the virus.
Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist were found to kill the virus on a hard, non-porous surface in two minutes, EPA found.
Reckitt Benckiser made headlines in April when the company strongly urged people not to use any of its products internally after President Donald Trump suggested that receiving an “injection” of a disinfectant could “knock out” the Covid-19 in “a minute.”
“We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)," the company said in statement at the time.
The EPA expects to test additional List N products against the virus in the coming weeks.
Other brands on the list include Scrubbing Bubbles, Clorox Bleach and Fantastik.
key background
Reckitt Benckiser reported record 13.3% sales growth in the first quarter on a like-for-like basis as disinfectants and medical supplies flew off the shelves. As lockdown orders were in place around the world, e-commerce revenue increased by 50%, and the company projected it would have a stronger year than previously forecast. The year-to-date return is 19.97%.
crucial quote
“I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or, or almost a cleaning?” Trump said at an April press briefing. Pointing to his head, Trump said: "I'm not a doctor. But I'm, like, a person that has a good you-know-what."
what to watch for
More products will be added to List N. The EPA chart shows the virus that has been tested and uses “SARS-CoV-2” if it has been tested against the pathogen that causes Covid-19. So far, Lysol makes the only two on the list.
further reading
Dettol And Lysol Maker Warns Against Drinking And Injecting Disinfectant After Trump Suggestion (Forbes)
