You’ve Been Greenwashed By MRS. Meyers

When I began my journey towards using toxin-free products, I decided to try Mrs. Meyers. It was located in the “natural” section of the grocery store, and I assumed that everything there was safe to use. The name Mrs. Meyers gave me the impression of a cozy, family-run business, but that couldn’t be more wrong.

The brand is actually a creation of SC Johnson. They noticed that natural cleaning products were gaining popularity, so they launched this new line. So, there’s no real Mrs. Meyers, and it’s not a family-run business. We’ve been greenwashed.

What is greenwashing? Greenwashing happens when companies falsely advertise their products as being good for the environment or health. This often occurs when brands use phrases like “all-natural” or “green” even though their products don’t actually meet those standards. As I started looking into this brand, I discovered that the main issue with Mrs. Meyer’s products is the added fragrance in all of them.

To start off, even though you can find this brand in natural and organic grocery stores, it’s important to note that it isn’t actually organic. For a product to be labeled as organic, it should have the USDA Organic logo, which these products lack.

Another concerning point is that all Mrs. Meyers products contain fragrance. The issue with this is that there are over 3,000 different ingredients and chemicals that can be used to create fragrance, and some of them have been linked to serious health problems. Unfortunately, the specific chemicals used aren’t listed anywhere. The industry standard allows these fragrance ingredients to remain a secret, known as the “fragrance loophole,” which is protected by federal law as trade secrets. This means they can legally keep this information hidden.

Fragrances are associated with a surprising amount of health dangers.

Various research studies have shown that the synthetic chemicals found in fragrances can act as allergens, disrupt hormones, trigger asthma, and even be neurotoxins and carcinogens. The bottom line is that fragrances can be really harmful and may lead to allergic reactions. (study)

Fragrances often include phthalates, which are chemicals that make scents last longer.

Research indicates that over 75% of scented products have these endocrine disruptors. The Centers for Disease Control has found that most Americans have phthalates in their blood, with women having the highest levels. These chemicals can mimic hormones in our bodies, leading to various health issues. The health risks associated with phthalates are alarming and include cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, disruption of the endocrine system, birth defects, respiratory issues, genital abnormalities in baby boys, and reduced sperm counts in men. Moreover, a recent extensive study involving more than 5,000 participants linked phthalates to premature deaths, estimating up to 107,000 deaths each year among adults aged 55-64. These harmful substances are tough to avoid since manufacturers don’t have to list them on product labels.

MRS. MEYERS, ADDITIONAL TOXIC INGREDIENTS

One common ingredient found in many Mrs. Myers’s products is methylisothiazolinone. This chemical was actually named allergen of the year a few years ago. It’s associated with skin problems, poses a significant risk for acute aquatic toxicity, and has potential neurotoxic effects. Because of these concerns, methylisothiazolinone is heavily restricted or even banned in places like Europe, Canada, and Japan. With a high rating of 7 on the EWG scale, it’s definitely an ingredient to steer clear of!

What to Use Instead

I discovered that plain Castile soap can take the place of many cleaning products like dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, mopping solution, laundry detergent, tub and surface scrub, cleaning wipes, and a bunch of others.

This is what I use – HERE