11/19/2020
After Reports, J&J Takes Steps To Clarify Listerine Is Not COVID-19 Cure
PRWeek (11/17, Bradley ) reports that “Listerine is making it clear to consumers that it is not a COVID-19 cure, following reports that mouthwash can kill the virus within 30 seconds of exposure in a laboratory.” Listerine acted after reports on research done at Cardiff University in Wales. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Consumer Health said in a statement that Listerine “is not intended to prevent or treat COVID-19 and should be used only as directed on the product label.” The company added, “To date, the available data and research is not sufficient to support a conclusion that the use of Listerine mouthwashes could be helpful in the prevention or treatment of coronavirus as further research is needed. As a company firmly rooted in science, we will be active participants in the scientific exchange on this topic.”
Forbes (11/18, Lee ) senior contributor Bruce Y. Lee says that “claims about mouthwash killing COVID-19 coronavirus have gotten so prevalent that Listerine has created a special web page to address such claims.” The webpage states, “Listerine mouthwash has not been tested against any strains of coronavirus.” The Listerine website adds, “Consumers should follow the preventive measures issued by the World Health Organization including washing hands frequently, maintaining social distance and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.”
In Case You Missed It
Study: Some Mouthwashes May Kill Coronavirus In Saliva
CNBC (11/17, Ellyatt) reports a study from Cardiff University suggests that “commonly-used mouthwashes” may be able to kill the coronavirus in human saliva “within 30 seconds of exposure in laboratory conditions.” The findings do not indicate the mouthwashes “would be able to treat the virus within the body, or act as a cure.” The preliminary results of the study, which “has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal,” come “ahead of a clinical trial at the University Hospital of Wales that will examine how effective mouthwash is in reducing the amount of coronavirus found in the saliva of COVID-19 patients.” The article notes that “the results of the upcoming clinical trials are expected early next year.”
The Hill (11/17, Castronuovo) reports, “A report released Friday from the university showed that mouthwashes containing at least 0.07 percent cetylpyridinium chloride showed an ability to eradicate the virus.” The study’s lead author, Richard Stanton, noted the findings are preliminary and people should continue to follow preventive measures and safety guidelines.
Fox Business (11/17, Park) reported that Johnson & Johnson, Listerine’s manufacturer and distributor, “discredited the claims made in the study,” saying “further research is needed.”
Also reporting are the New York Post (11/17, Woods), International Business Times (11/17, Raimondi), and Dentistry UK (11/17).
