Global  FMCG major Unilever on Saturday said it will bring its mouthwash formulation to India, which it claims will reduce the coronavirus 99.9 percent after 30 seconds of rinsing. "Unilever confirmed that preliminary laboratory test results show that a mouthwash formulation containing CPC technology reduces 99.9 percent of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, after 30 seconds of rinse, "the company said in a statement.

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose, which has been detected before, during, and after the acute phase of illness, as well as in asymptomatic cases. Therefore, reducing the viral load in the mouth can help reduce transmission. The results indicate that mouthwash can become an important addition to other daily preventive measures such as hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks.

"While we are clear that this is not a proven treatment or method to prevent coronavirus transmission, our results are promising," said Glenn Roberts, Head of Oral Care Research and Development at Unilever. Roberts added that given the critical stage of the pandemic, the company feels it is important to share the results of the mouthwash. The company said that Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), the arm of Unilever, will introduce this technology in India in the Pepsodent Germicheck mouthwash liquid, which will launch in India in December 2020.

Unilever said that the mouthwash test containing CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) technology was conducted by an independent and internationally accredited testing facility, Microbac Laboratories, on behalf of Unilever Research Laboratories in the United States. 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 a rinse time of 30 and 60 seconds, aiming to replicate the use of real-life mouthwash in an in-vitro context. However, the company said: "The tests do not suggest that the formulation is a cure for COVID-19, nor is it a guarantee that it will prevent transmission on its own."

Source: Money Control

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