I was very sad to read the news that CDC confirmed a deadly bacteria* in a Better Homes and Gardens-branded-Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray sold at Walmart. The bacteria is so deadly it is advised to not even pour the liquid down your sink.
I know it can be a full time job to figure out what cleaning products and body care brands have the best ingredients for the air and water in your home -- and anything that touches your skin. Even when buying products that are 'Made in the USA 'or have various 'clean approval' stamps, there are still many factors in products that are mass produced that should be looked at carefully.
If it's applied to your skin or you breathe it in - you absorb it.
I don't want to pick on the room spray I mentioned above but consider this: it is manufactured by Flora Classique Inc. (sold under the Better Homes & Gardens brand) which is based in Wildomar, California and part of the Gala Group, a German manufacturer of candles, home scents and home decor. Flora Classique is also affiliated with Ramesh Flowers Pvt. in Tuticorin, India. Flora Classique mostly distributes its products at mass retailers and discount stores throughout the U.S., operating warehouses in Wildomar and Memphis, Tennessee.
Did you get all that? Their website is currently 'under construction' since the news about the deaths. Consider this:
- what are the ingredients - and where were they sourced and/or made?
- where was it actually produced and how many bottles at once?
- how long did it take to get to shelves in U.S. stores and once there, how long has it been sitting there? How long did it sit in warehouses?
I do not have the answers to these questions. I don't know all the details about mass production or supply chain logistics, but I do know this is why I offer small batch skin care products with all-organic ingredients: I feel confident that what I put on my skin and in my air includes organic and locally sourced essential oils. I purchase the ingredients as I need them and know I source from companies that sell as they make.
If you need to start small with changes in your home, know that Moonchaser is here to give you peace of mind as you take care of yourself - and your loved ones.
I truly want everyone to feel their best every day. It’s not easy in this busy world, but we have to remember how important it is to keep our body, mind, and spirit in balance. My mantra is not new but it’s to be taken to heart: we can only take care of others by taking care of ourselves first.
Peace, well-being and love, Polly
*bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes melioidosis, a rare but serious disease