• September 24, 2007

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