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CBIO SUPPORT REVOLUTION IN CLEANING THANKS TO PROBIOTICS
SCIENTISTS at Stockton-on-Tees-based CBio (Cleveland Biotech) have declared a revolution in cleaning thanks to its contribution to the development of ground-breaking probiotic products for TV’s Aggie MacKenzie.
The Stockton-based environmental biotechnology company has helped develop the range of probiotic cleaners for brand owners, Footprint International, alongside the TV presenter and journalist.
The radical but hugely effective approach, which uses good bacteria to “combat” the bad instead of blasting bugs with traditional harsh chemicals, illustrates the sheer power of probiotics, which not only protect a surface from harmful bacteria for up to a staggering eight days, they do not cause any harm the environment in the process.
Clinical trials carried out on the E-coli bug at the University of Newcastle show anti-bacterial action is only effective for 2-3 hours – killing 99.9% of bacteria (of which 98% are harmless), therefore it creates space within which E coli can populate and multiply. After 24 hours, Aggie’s Probiotic Cleaners are a staggering 13200 times more effective than a brand-leading anti-bacterial cleaner at inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria.
As products hit the shelves in Tesco last month (June), CBio believes this could help herald the start of a complete revolution in cleaning.
Most cleaning products aim to kill 99.9pc of household bacteria but as soon as you clean a surface it can be re-colonised by bad bacteria. Probiotics not only clean but also add a layer of good bacteria to the surface which fills the gap left by cleaning - there is simply no room for a bad bacterium to take hold.
Managing director of CBio, Ben Hoskyns, has already launched a drive to partner up with clinical test sites in hospitals and care homes as he believes probiotics are the key to banishing dangerous germs such as MRSA and E-coli.
He says it’s a concept people might take some getting used to: “It’s a problem of perception. We’ve all been brought up for decades to believe that the only way to clean is to try and eliminate all bacteria,” he said.
“This is impossible, bacteria are everywhere but only a minority of them are harmful. This is about people learning to say ‘I accept there are bacteria around - but I only want the good ones.”
Aggie’s Probiotics range features a Multisurface Cleaner, Washing up Liquid, Toilet Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaner were launched on June 17 by Footprint International Limited.
CBio specialise in bacterial solutions in janitorial and drainage products. The company produces products that break down fat and grease. It researches, tests and manufactures its own products at the North East site where it has been based since 1992. The company works with a wide range of businesses, such as supermarkets, commercial kitchens, large schools and colleges, pub chains and oil refinery companies.