NBA Legend Magic Johnson Discusses Ecolab Science Certified™ Partnership with Forbes

Johnson underscores how the Ecolab Science Certified program is helping businesses advance cleaner, safer practices and people reclaim their social lives

September 29, 2021
Raul Porto (left), owner of Porto’s Bakery in southern California, with Earl “Magic” Johnson (right). Porto is holding a framed certificate of commitment that demonstrates Porto's Bakery has earned the Ecolab Science Certified seal.

Raul Porto (left), owner of Porto’s Bakery in southern California, with Earvin “Magic” Johnson (right), who partnered with Ecolab to deliver the Ecolab Science Certified seal to the business.

For more than a year, incredible efforts have been made at businesses around the world to respond to and manage the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of those efforts – such as heightened expectations around cleanliness – appear here to stay. It’s this focus on safety and hygiene that has NBA legend and Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson so excited about the Ecolab Science Certified™ program. In a recent interview with Forbes, Johnson discussed how he has been staying safe during the pandemic and his recent partnership with Ecolab.

In the interview, Johnson recounts collaborating with Ecolab on the #TakeBackYourSocialLife campaign earlier this year, a social media initiative that highlighted businesses that have earned the Ecolab Science Certified seal. As consumers continue to look for visible commitments to hygiene, public health and food safety, the Ecolab Science Certified seal helps them find restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and other businesses that have committed to delivering a higher level of cleanliness through science-backed products, protocols, training and periodic auditing.

Porto’s Bakery, a restaurant chain in southern California, is just one of hundreds of businesses that have earned the seal – see a list of businesses here. In June, Johnson stopped by Porto’s Bakery to present the owner, Raul Porto, with the Ecolab Science Certified seal. A travel and food aficionado, Johnson underscores how choosing businesses with the seal is helping him take back his social life with confidence.


"Porto’s was a great example of how Ecolab is helping entrepreneurs who are doing a good job … When you’ve earned that seal, you’ve done everything you are supposed to do in terms of making your restaurant, hotel or business spaces safe. Because we all wanted to go back out and take our live back, we all wanted to get back to some sense of normalcy."


Earvin "Magic" Johnson


Why Ecolab Science Certified?


Building on Ecolab’s longstanding expertise in fighting emerging pathogens and the company’s experience in helping keep healthcare facilities clean, Ecolab Science Certified brings the same knowledge and science-based products and protocols to the places where people eat, stay, shop and play. As consumer expectations for cleaning, hygiene and public health have shifted, 64% of consumers Ecolab surveyed would be more likely to consider visiting a business if they had Ecolab Science Certified in place1.

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spray bottle spraying cleaning solution

What's important to consumers1?

83% say it’s important to maintain
a safe environment.

80% say it’s important to help prevent
the spread of germs.

78% say it helps protect
their family and friends.

shield of protection

What impact does Ecolab Science Certified have1?

73% say having the seal shows businesses care about their health.

72% say it makes them
feel safer.

64% say it increases their likelihood
of visiting a business.

For more information about the Ecolab Science Certified program, visit www.sciencecertified.com.


Ecolab Science Certified program

Learn more about Ecolab Science Certified, a comprehensive and science-based public health and food safety program.

Ecolab Science Certified™ Program

Learn more about how Ecolab Science Certified helps businesses deliver a higher level of cleanliness and respond to changing consumer expectations.

Restaurant worker smiling and standing behind a glass door that has the ESC logo on it

Earning the Seal

Interested in earning the Ecolab Science Certified seal? Together we can advance cleaner, safer practices and build confidence with your customers and employees.

1Source: “Post-Vaccine Consumer Attitude Study;” July 2021 (paid for by Ecolab).