Reckitt Benckiser warns against ingestion of disinfectants to fight COVID-19 – after Trump’s remark
Reckitt Benckiser, the manuacturers of Dettol and other houseolds products, has warned against the ingestion of disinfectants to fight COVID-19.
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, 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). As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information,” RB said in a statement.
“We have a responsibility in providing consumers with access to accurate, up-to-date information as advised by leading public health experts. For this and other myth-busting facts, please visit www.Covid-19facts.com.”
The warning was prompted by United States President Donald Trump’s suggestion that an “injection inside” the human body with a disinfectant like bleach or isopropyl alcohol could help combat the virus.
“And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute,” Trump said at a White House briefing on Thursday.
“And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.”
His suggestion evoked a flurry of backlashes from health professionals, social media users and politicians. Companies that produce cleaning products have also warned against the ingestion of the harmful products to prevent COVID-19.
“I can’t believe I have to say this, but please don’t drink bleach,” Joe Biden, Former U.S Vice President and Democrats Presidential aspirant, Joe Biden tweeted:
Reports also say many callers flooded a health hotline with questions following Trump’s remark.
Trump, however, quickly withdrew is comment on Friday and insuniated that he was taken out of context. He insisted that his question on cleaning the body with disinfectant “in the form of a sarcastic question to a reporter”.
“I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,” Trump told journalists on Friday.
