Unilever, a major global consumer goods company, said on Saturday it will bring its mouthwash formula to India, which it claims will reduce 99.9% of the coronavirus after 30 seconds of rinsing.
Unilever, a global consumer goods major, said on Saturday that it will bring its mouthwash formulation to India, which it claims will reduce 99.9% of the coronavirus after 30 seconds of rinsing.
“Unilever has confirmed that preliminary laboratory test results show that the mouthwash formulation containing CPC technology reduces 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, after 30 seconds rinse, “the company said in a statement.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted mainly through droplets of saliva or nasal secretions, which have been detected before, during and after the acute phase of the disease, as well as in asymptomatic cases.
“Therefore, reducing the viral load in the mouth could help reduce transmission. The findings indicate that mouthwash could become an important addition to other daily protective measures such as hand washing, physical distancing and the use of masks, “he added.
Unilever Head of Oral Care Research and Development, Glyn Roberts, said: “While we are clear that this is not a cure or a proven way to prevent coronavirus transmission, our results are promising.”
Roberts added that given the critical stage of the pandemic, the company feels it is important to share the results of the mouthwash.
This technology will be brought to India by Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), Unilever’s arm, in Pepsodent Germicheck Mouth Rinse Liquid, which will launch in India in December 2020, the company said.
Unilever said the testing for its mouthwash containing CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) technology was performed by an independent and internationally accredited testing facility, Microbac Laboratories, on behalf of Unilever Research Laboratories in the US.
CPC is a widely used cosmetic ingredient, also used by the dental industry, and is known for its antibacterial and anti-virus benefits.
The test focused on rinse times of 30 and 60 seconds, with the aim of replicating the actual use of mouthwash in an in vitro context.
The company, however, said: “The evidence does not suggest that the formulation is a treatment for COVID-19, nor a guarantee that it will prevent transmission on its own.”
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