HospitalsOctober 28, 2015

FTC Pulls the Plug on False Advertising for UV Devices

by Halosil

For HaloMist, honesty isn’t just the best policy. It’s the only policy

Two companies selling ultraviolet light devices claimed their products were powerful disinfectants, able to give foot fungus the boot and kick E. coli, MRSA, salmonella and other pathogens to the curb.

Angel Sales, Inc., and Zadro Health Solutions, Inc., agreed to stop making those claims after the Federal Trade Commission went after them for false advertising. The settlement the government reached with the businesses also includes fines.

“The defendants said their devices’ UV rays would kill dangerous microorganisms, but they didn’t have scientific evidence to back that up,” Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “I’m pleased that the FTC’s action has put an end to these deceptive claims.”

Nano-UV packaging claimed the UV wands kill 99 percent of germs on a variety of surfaces, including in food preparation areas, nurseries, shower floors, public rest rooms, and clinics. The other product, shUVee, said it annihilated fungus, MRSA and other microorganisms in footwear.

Even though the products didn’t live up to their claims, consumers didn’t have a problem finding ways to buy them. They were sold through many very familiar outlets. But more importantly, this is a reminder to us all that we need to be savvy consumers, whether we are buying for our households or purchasing for a large, sophisticated institution.

Weekend athletes concerned about what germs might be lurking in their sneakers, managers responsible for keeping MRSA out of a professional basketball locker room, and Infection Preventionists have one thing in common – they need to be able to trust what sales reps tell them and what they read in a brochure. There are many companies selling UV products and chemical disinfectants today that should be targeted by the FTC and the EPA for false claims, but enforcement has been less than adequate due to agency budget constraints.

However, you can be confident that the Halo Disinfection System – the combination of the HaloFogger and its disinfectant HaloMist – has a 6-log kill rate, meaning it eradicates 99.9999 percent of pathogens.

Who says so? The Environmental Protection Agency, that’s who.

The EPA doesn’t hand out its approval like business cards at a networking group. The efficacy and safety of the Halo Disinfection System was registered by the EPA after thorough and rigorous testing and documentation. Its aerosolized hydrogen peroxide mist provides total room disinfection, eradicating Clostridioides difficile, MRSA and other pathogens in complex healthcare settings.

You can trust what you read on our labels.