Frequently Asked Questions:

A lot of cleaning products claim to be disinfectants, but as a consumer how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide really kills germs?

“Disinfectant” is actually a legal term that can only be stated on product labels that have been proven to kill 99.999% of specific bacteria. “Fungicide” is also a legal term that proves the product kills 99.999% of fungi.

These test bacteria and fungi are predetermined by Health Canada. In addition to germ kill data, Health Canada scientists review the product for other characteristics such as; how toxic the product is to our environment, directions for safe and effective application, storage, disposal and handling plus a complete review of the health and safety profile of the product.

When Health Canada is satisfied with all the scientific data, the product is registered by Health Canada, a Drug Identification Number (DIN) is issued and the product can now be called a disinfectant or a fungicide.

The DIN for Benefect® is 02242474.

What is the difference between cleaners and disinfectants?

Cleaners aren’t registered with Health Canada and do not require a Health Canada DIN to be sold into the marketplace. Cleaning products cannot make any public health claims on their labels that they kill germs. Watch out for “antimicrobial” cleaners or other marketing terms that allude to killing germs.

A good rule of thumb to distinguish between cleaners and disinfectant is to make sure the product has DIN # on the label. If there isn’t a DIN on the label then be safe and just use the product to clean up dirt and other organic matter.

Can I clean and disinfect in one step?

Yes, but only if the surface to be disinfected is not excessively dirty. It is to be understood that visible, impermeable particulates would be removed prior to disinfection. Some disinfectants are tested by Health Canada with a 5% organic load on the surface to simulate real life use. But if the surface is covered with enough "dirt" to be a barrier, then that is excessively dirty and needs to be cleaned prior to disinfection. If the disinfectant was applied in these conditions, without pre-cleaning, there is a possibility that;

1) the disinfectant will be inactivated by the dirt, or

2) the dirt will pose a physical barrier so the disinfectant simply can't get to the bacteria.

It is best to use some of the Benefect Multi Purpose Cleaner to first clean up the visible dirt so the disinfectant can get to work.

Be wary of some one-step or combination cleaner/disinfectant products, some have different directions and contact times required for cleaning than for disinfecting.

Make sure you follow the DIN registered label.

Should I wipe or rinse Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide off food contact surfaces?

Always refer to the DIN registered label for specifics on applications and directions. The DIN registered label states that Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide can be used on food contact surfaces and does not require a rinse or wipe.

Does the product come in different scents?

Only the lemon and clove scent is available at this time. The scent is a direct result of the natural oils that do the germ killing. Many fragrances that consumers are used to are actually synthetic and do not contribute to the germ killing ability of the product.

If we started to add these synthetic fragrances to Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide this would alter the safety profile and we wouldn’t have been able to produce a product with no warning labels.

Why are there no warning labels?

All of the natural oils that are in Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide are either F.D.A (Food and Drug Administration) approved as Food Additives or on the United States G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized as Safe) list.

When Health Canada reviewed the health and safety profile they determined that these food grade ingredients posed no negative health effects and that the Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide label did not require any warnings.

Lots of cleaning products say “Natural” but snake venom and arsenic are natural, so how do I know that Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide isn’t actually hurting me and my family?

Health Canada’s directive is to maintain and protect public health. If Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide is a potential public health threat then the Health Canada DIN registered label would need to reflect any potential hazards. Health Canada lets us know that the products are hazardous by putting warning labels or precautionary statements on the labels.

The label says Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide is for hard surfaces, what happens if I use it on my carpet or other porous surfaces?

If you use Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide on porous surfaces then you cannot be sure that it will be killing 99.999% of the bacteria and fungi. It will be killing the organisms that it comes into contact with, but we don’t know just how many.

If Benefect Disinfectant and Fungicide is sprayed on porous surfaces then it can only be said to deodorize, not disinfect.

What does the Environmental Choice maple leaf and bird logo mean?

This maple leaf and bird logo is the official logo of Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice Program (ECP). The ECP is similar to the Green Seal program that recognizes superior products that surpass certain environmental standards and reflect environmental responsibility and stewardship. Benefect is the only disinfectant and fungicide to be recognized by this program.

For a complete list of Eco-logo certified products please visit www.environmentalchoice.ca.