Wet Ones ‘Kills 99.99% of Germs’ Label Deceptive, Suit Alleges

Wet Ones maker Edgewell Personal Care Co. deceptively says the hand wipes can kill “99.99% of Germs” and are hypoallergenic and gentle on skin, a new federal lawsuit in California alleges.

“Germs” is a commonly understood term as an organism that causes disease. But contrary to Edgewell’s representations, the products don’t “kill” 99.99% of the organisms that cause disease, Lauren Souter alleges in a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

The active ingredient, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), is ineffective against certain viruses like norovirus, called non-enveloped viruses; certain bacteria; and spores that cause gastrointestinal illness ...