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Article

2 May 2016

Author:
BBC News (UK); video by Euronews

S. Korea: Reckitt Benckiser admits it sold a humidifier disinfectant that killed 100 people

"Reckitt Benckiser sold deadly sterilisers in South Korea"

British-based firm Reckitt Benckiser has admitted for the first time selling a humidifier disinfectant that killed about 100 people in South Korea.  The head of its South Korean division was attacked by angry relatives as he apologised at a Seoul hotel...

It has offered compensation to the families of those who died, as well as the hundreds more who were injured... "This is the first time we are accepting the fullest responsibility, and we are offering a complete and full apology. We were late, five years have passed," Ataur Safdar said. He added that the company was setting up a multi-million dollar humanitarian fund for the victims and their families.  Many are said to be children or pregnant women.

His apology was rejected by relatives at the news conference, at least one of whom hit him...

About 500 people are reported to have died or been injured after inhaling poisonous chemicals used in humidifier disinfectants manufactured and sold by several companies in South Korea from 2001 to 2011...

Patty O'Hayer, a spokesperson for Reckitt Benckiser, told the BBC that the South Korean government had so far linked 177 cases to its product.  But the process of identifying possible victims was not yet complete.

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