‘This is not allowed’

A company is facing backlash for suggesting that water is no longer good enough to clean products.

Clean Boss, the maker of Eat Cleaner Produce Wash, had a TV commercial claiming their product is superior to water, but eagle-eyed viewers spotted some concerning issues with their comparison.

What happened?

A Reddit user recently drew attention to Clean Boss’s ad in the r/Anticonsumption community, pointing out how the company used deceptive tactics to promote its product.

The commercial shows a side-by-side comparison of vegetables washed with water versus Eat Cleaner. However, according to the small text at the bottom of the screen, the products used in the “water only” demonstration were 21 days old, while the products washed with Eat Cleaner vegetables seemed fresh.

“Water is outdated. BUY EATCLEANER!” the Redditor wrote sarcastically.

The post sparked a heated discussion, with one commenter argue“This kind of nonsense is not allowed on TV, because there are too many stupid people.”

While the sentiment reflects frustration over misleading marketing, the real problem lies with companies exploiting consumer concerns about food safety.

Why is misleading marketing a concern?

This type of marketing can lead consumers to spend money on unnecessary products, while undermining confidence in one of our most fundamental and sustainable resources: water.

Clean water effectively removes dirt and bacteria of products in combination with the correct washing techniques. Creating doubt about the effectiveness of water can push people to buy single-use water plastic bottles filled with cleaning solutions they don’t need, and contribute to them plastic waste and unnecessary household expenses.

Is Clean Boss doing anything about this?

Although Clean Boss markets Eat Cleaner as an environmentally conscious choice, the company has yet to address concerns about its advertising tactics.

It offers the product in a concentrated form to reduce packaging waste and use recyclable bottles. However, these efforts do not address the core problem of promoting a solution to a problem that may not exist for most consumers.

What can I do against misleading marketing?

No special products are needed to keep your products clean and safe. Food safety experts confirm that rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean running water and gently rubbing the surfaces effectively removes dirt and bacteria. For objects such as melons with a rough surface, you can use a clean produce brush with water.

Some cities and states have consumer protection laws that address this misleading environmental marketing claims, often called ‘greenwashing’. When you see potential misleading advertisingyou can report it to your state’s consumer protection agency or the Federal Trade Commission.

The most lasting – and often most effective – solution is usually the simplest. In this case, that’s the clean, safe tap water that already flows through your home.

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