Exhibit (23)B
CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS GmbH
TO INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements of Ecolab Inc. on Form S-8 (Registration Nos. 2–60010; 2–74944; 33–1664; 33-41828; 2–90702; 33–18202; 33–55986; 33-56101; 333-95043; 33–26241; 33–34000; 33-56151; 333-18627; 33–39228; 33-56125; 333-70835; 33–60266; 333-95041; 33-65364; 33-59431; 333-18617; 333-79449; 333-35519; 333-40239; 333-95037; 333-50969; 333-62183; and 333-58360) and Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-14771) of our report dated January 11, 2002 relating to the combined financial statements and financial statement schedule of Henkel-Ecolab as of November 30, 2001 and 2000 and for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2001, which appears in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ecolab Inc.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Düsseldorf, Germany
March 8, 2002
