Thanks to fears of SARS, avian flu and superbugs, this year has proven to be a record-breaker for the introduction of antimicrobial nonfood products, reports market researcher Mintel.
In
2003, 200 such products were launched worldwide, compared with 1,610 in 2006--a 713% growth.
"Already this year, we have seen over 1,700 anti-bacterial products launch globally as
manufacturers continue to play on consumer fears about germs," the report says.
Some 71% of American adults who do some or all of the household cleaning say they "prefer anti-bacterial and
germ-killing cleaning products;" among consumers 18-24, that preference rises to 80%.
--Sarah Mahoney