SC Johnson has been hit with a class action lawsuit claiming that Method cleaning products contain harmful and toxic ingredients.
Method cleaning products are reportedly marketed as “non-toxic,” allowing SC Johnson to charge a premium price for these cleaners. However, these representations are false, according to allegations from California resident Felicia Toth.
Toth says she purchased several Method cleaning products which stated that they were “non-toxic.” The plaintiff allegedly relied on these representations when choosing a cleaning product, but was shocked to find out that the products actually contained several toxic ingredients.
The lawsuit explains that an increasing number of consumers specifically look for non-toxic products to use in their daily lives. This includes cleaning products, as consumers want more natural, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional household cleaners.
As a result of this demand, a non-toxic household products market has developed. Products sold in this category are often sold with representations that they are “non-toxic” and “plant based.”
The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, has established new guidelines to help standardize these representations and to “help marketers avoid making environmental marketing claims that are unfair or deceptive.”
Under FTC regulations, “it is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product, package or service is non-toxic” and “a non-toxic claim likely conveys that a product, package, or service is non-toxic for humans and for the environment generally.”
The FTC says that, when making “non-toxic” claims, marketers must have reliable scientific evidence or “should clearly and prominently qualify their claims to avoid deception.”
Unfortunately, SC Johnson allegedly fails to comply with these requirements when marketing their Method household cleaner.
Contrary to their claims, the products reportedly contain a variety of cleaning agents which disqualify the cleaners from making a “non-toxic” claim, including: dipropylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, linalool, methylisothiazolinone, limonene and octylisothiazolinone.
Dipropylene glycol is a synthetic ingredient which is allegedly used as a fragrance in Method household cleaner, Squirt and Mop Floor Cleaner, and Granite Cleaner. This ingredient has reportedly been show to cause temporary eye irritation when exposed to the eyes.
Phenoxyethanol is another synthetic ingredient found in various Method cleaning products including Squirt and Mop Floor Cleaner and Steel for Real cleaner. This ingredient can reportedly cause irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. When swallowed, phenoxyethanol has reportedly been show to have “deleterious” effects on the nervous system which could lead to “impaired functions.”
Linalool, found in the Method household cleaner and Squirt and Mop floor cleaner, can reportedly cause serious eye damage in addition to irritating the skin and eyes. Toth notes that this ingredient can also have negative environmental effects by harming aquatic life.
Method cleaning products, including Squirt and Mop floor cleaner, Steel for Real cleaner and Daily Granite cleaner, allegedly contain methylisothiazolinone. In 2013, this ingredient was reportedly named the Allergen of the Year and “has exhibited skin sensitization effects and may also cause systemic acute toxicity and local effects such as eczema and contact allergy reactions.”
Limonene, allegedly found in the Method household cleaner, Steel for Real cleaner, and Daily Granite cleaner, is reportedly used to substitute significantly toxic ingredients such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons and other solvents.
However, this ingredient reportedly also has negative effects including skin irritation characterized by burning, itching, aching, and a long lasting rash.
The last ingredient called out by the class action lawsuit, octylisothiazolinone, is found as a preservative in the Method Daily Granite cleaner. Unfortunately, this ingredient can allegedly cause toxic effects to marine and sediment dwelling life.
Toth argues that the inclusion of these ingredients disqualifies Method cleaning products from the “non-toxic” label.
Unfortunately, the plaintiff says that most consumers would be unable to identify these ingredients as potential toxins, meaning that they could be misled by the product packaging which touts the cleaners as “non-toxic.”
“The Product’s ‘non-toxic’ claim signifies to reasonable consumers that the Products will not be harmful to people (including small children), common pets or the environment,” the Method cleaning products class action lawsuit argues.
“A reasonable consumer’s understanding of ‘will not harm’ is not limited to toxins that cause death but ‘also various types of temporary physical illness, such as vomiting, rash and gastrointestinal upset.’”
As a result of these claims, Toth and other consumers have allegedly been injured financially as they would not have purchased the products or would have paid significantly less had they been aware of the toxic contents of the products.
Have you purchased Method cleaning products? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
Toth and the proposed Class are represented by Michael R. Reese and George V. Granade of Reese LLP and Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.
The Method Cleaning Products Class Action Lawsuit is Felicia Toth v. SC Johnson & Son Inc., et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-03553, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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1,167 thoughts onMethod Class Action Says Cleaning Products Are Toxic
I have been using Method products for years, especially ones that are listed in the class action lawsuit. I am so disappointed.
I really believed that the natural cleaners werent harmful or toxic. Very disappointed finding this out. Please add me
I have exclusively used method cleaning products for years. I’m very upset that I’ve been duped. I would like information on joining this lawsuit.
I’m so disappointed I love this product I use it for my business and personal use for years. I guess I’ll switch to Myers instead but it’s not the same. Thanks for the information. I hope they take out the harmful toxins and improve the product
Mrs. Meyers products also toxic…
Very disappointed. I thought the products would be safer for the environment. I’ve used multiple Method products over the past few years. And between my kids, and my septic field, I thought I was helping, rather than harming.
Oh, wow! I used them all the time because they said they were safer! I’m so mad!
I ditched Method products – all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, shower spray, toliet cleaner, laundry wood polish spray, wood & floor mopping cleanser, detergent & dryer sheets – 2 years ago (after using for almost a decade) when I learned how companies like Method use “greenwashing” marketing tactics to appeal to people that their products are safe to use for them & the environment (I mean, it says it’s non-toxic & plant-based). I couldn’t use all of their scents – I was more sensitive to lavender, any floral-like or even “cotton”, “fresh linen” or “ocean”-like scents (i.e., I would get a bad headache); I used their lemon, currant, other berry, melon or other fruit-like scents. Even though I used to get a slight headache from using the shower spray, I liked the ease of being able to spray the walls and tub with it after each use – and, again, I thought it was safe to use as it stated as such (very scary to think about how I was inhaling this spray every.single.day). I didn’t use gloves when cleaning with the sprays or dish soap, and I’m lucky I didn’t have any skin reactions over the years of using; but it is very concerning to think about the bioaccumulation in my body as my skin absorbed harmful chemicals used in their formulas.
My go to for wood cleaning is only method. It works so well and smells so good. If this is toxic, it would explain a lot as I have had skin rashes on hands and congestion after using. I though this was a target brand????
Tami,
Please contact me I have something that you may be interested in. As a matter if fact my ENT and Respiratory Specialist highly recommended this company that I’m an ambassador for.
No! I switched to Method when my daughter was on the way, because I thought it would create a safer environment for her and I wouldn’t have to worry if she got a little bit on her when “helping” me clean(She’s two now) Guess you can’t judge a cleaner by it’s label?
Bethany, please contact me I have something that you may be interested in. As a matter if fact my ENT and Respiratory Specialist highly recommended this company that I’m an ambassador for.
Add me
Using their soap caused a severe reaction on my hands ultimately causing me to have severe eczema that took months and months of treatment by a dermatologist to get rid of.
My daughter has had strange unexplained rashes and swelling to her lower legs after using her shower. I use method to clean it. Add me.
Add me, please. I’ve had itchiness and rashes since I started using these products.