Fear marketing preying its best on the ignorant

naisho

naisho

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I got a 35pack of Lysol from Walmart just yesterday, one of the usual "every other time" to buy thing.

Don't get me wrong, Lysol wipes are a great product, the active chemical in it (Benzalkonium chloride) is great for disinfectant, hygenic and anti-septic purposes.

However this particular pack, I noticed something different about it..
wipes1.jpg


Notice it has the nice, giant lettering of KILLS FLU VIRUS** on it.

Being curious, I went to read, what exactly does it mean by "Kills Flu Virus?" is it referring to the most recent H1N1 - swine influenza? The vaccine isn't even read yet, infact it should still be in process.

So, since it has the ** of course I went to look around for it.. Believe me it took about 2 minutes before I could find out where it was..

wipes2.jpg


By Flu virus, it meant Salmonella and Influenza New Caledonia 20/99 strain.
Ignoring salmonella as it isn't the case here, looking up New Caledonia 20/99, I wasn't sure what that was.

Through more researching I discovered NC 20/99 was H3N2, a flu outbreak 2003-2004 season..
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5325a1.htm


Thus being said, this has next to zero impact on H1N1 nor the people who are already vaccinated for H3N2.

So, in result, it is no more than a marketing gimmick.

Your thoughts?
 
That BIG lettering "Kills Flu Virus" Has been on the Lysol wipe box for a long time now, in Florida. Way before the H1N1 even came out.

been on there for at least a year or so.
 
what is my thought? They are making $ by advertising people when they see " kill flu virus " in order to increase their business go so well.

I can't live without the wipes to clean up at a last minute in the kitchen, bathroom and doors. So i do buy the products all the time.
 
not everyone's gonna read the fine print. businesses rely on that and cultural hype to reap in profits. at the end of the day its just business.
 
Babyblue said:
That BIG lettering "Kills Flu Virus" Has been on the Lysol wipe box for a long time now, in Florida. Way before the H1N1 even came out.

been on there for at least a year or so.
Click to expand...

Yep. Been seeing on the ones I buy for quite some time around here.

And...it's advertising. We should all know to take advertising with a grain of salt.
 
I am surprised it would have no effect on H1N1. I thought most virus are fragile, and could not survive the chemicals and alcohol in the disinfectant wipe.
 
no surprise at all about the marketing....I read the "fine print" too naisho but many people don't - I think they want one to assume that it means "all flu" or the most recent flu hysteria, because that's what many will think of <not all>. Lotta products do that - the marketing - prey on "half-truths" and people's misconception
 
Bottesini said:
I am surprised it would have no effect on H1N1. I thought most virus are fragile, and could not survive the chemicals and alcohol in the disinfectant wipe.
Click to expand...

I wish the cold virus was that fragile so it could be wiped out years ago. I am suffering from a cold now.
 
lol typical 'ingeunity' of marketers they get to use the widespread fears to their advantage.
 
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