Type Insecticide Headquarters Sydney, Australia | Industry Household goods Owner Reckitt Benckiser | |
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Area served Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania and Papua New Guinea | ||
Mortein is an Australian brand of household insecticide owned by British company Reckitt Benckiser. Together with its sister product Aerogard, a popular insect repellent, Mortein has become something of a household name in Australia, and it is marketed internationally. The brand has been represented in television commercials by cartoon antagonist, Louie the Fly, drawn and animated by Geoffry Morgan Pike since 1957. In a jingle created by Bryce Courtenay it was used in animated TV commercials since 1962, he proudly sings of his own dirtiness, claiming to be afraid of no-one except "the man with the can of Mortein."
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Slogan
Mortein's slogan is "More smart, more safe, Mortein." The word "Mortein" is a combination of the French word "mort" (dead) and the German word "ein" (one).
Formula
Mortein "Insect Seeking Fly Spray" uses the active ingredients Allethrin (2.09 g/kg) and Resmethrin (0.39 g/kg), both Pyrethroid neuro-toxins which are considered generally safe in typical doses, although one study have found an association between exposure to pyrethroids and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in male, but not female children. Another study found an association between exposure to pyrethroids and the prevalence of biochemical markers for ADHD in developing mice. Pyrethroids break down in the environment after one or two days. Mortein is also available in New Zealand and India. It is a very popular insecticide brand in Pakistan Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited.
Music and lyrics
The music and lyrics were written by James Joseph White and the copyright of the music and lyrics was held by him until his death. The copyright then was inherited by his relatives. The copyright of the jingle is registered with the (Australasian Performing Right Association LTD) (A.P.R.A).
In Spring 2013, Mortein was sold in stores around Fiji and the Comoros.
Louie the Fly
The company is well-known of its popular, largely animated mascot "Louie the Fly", in the popular Australian television commercial, the character and ditty was sung by Ross Higgins, best known as Ted Bullpitt in Kingswood Country