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Help prevent food-borne illness and kill 99.9% of bacteria with FIT® Fresh

FIT^® Fresh uses pure chlorine dioxide, a powerful oxidizer without the corrosive or toxic levels of other sanitizers. Pure chlorine dioxide enables food processors to provide the cleanest possible environment without damaging materials, irritating staff or affecting foods. And by reducing mold and bacteria, you can help safeguard your organization against costly recalls.

Approved and registered with the FDA, EPA and OMRI, FIT^® Fresh prevents 99.9 percent of foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella sp   and Staphylococcus aureus on fruits and vegetables. FIT^® Fresh is approved for use on both conventional produce as well as certified organic produce.

FIT Organic to Donate Mosquito Repellent to Harvey Victims

FIT Organic, a company that makes certified organic household products, has announced that it will be donating their organic mosquito repellent to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.



FIT Organic Mosquito Repellent - now 50% off to help the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

The company will be donating over 1200 bottles of organic mosquito repellent, valued at over $12,000, to Matthew 25 Ministries, who will distribute the product to those who need it most in the greater Houston area.

Residents of the greater Houston area can also receive a 50% discount if they order the mosquito repellent off the FIT Organic website (www.fitorganic.com) using the discount code: "HOUSTON".

While water levels may be receding in Texas, the threat of water borne diseases from mosquitoes remain present, especially in standing water. FIT Organic prides itself on providing the best products for homeowners and families, and hopes the donation will be put to good use.

"At times like these, where the community is trying to rebuild, people don't need to be worrying about mosquitoes, or what's the safest repellent to spray on themselves and their loved ones. That's why we're donating our organic repellent product to the people of Houston," said Todd Wichmann of HealthPro Brands Inc., parent company of FIT Organic.

"It's times like these where we see the fiber of the American people, and we're hoping that our donation can make the lives of the survivors of Hurricane Harvey just a little bit easier," added Wichmann.

FIT Organic recognizes the need for communities to come together in difficult times, and it hopes that this minor donation will assist in keeping fellow citizens safe and comfortable.

For information on Matthew 25 Ministries, please visit www.m25m.org.

ABOUT FIT Organic
FIT Organic creates certified organic household products. From carpet cleaner to mosquito repellent, FIT Organic products are USDA Certified Organic by the prestigious Oregon Tilth Company, meaning that each product must pass strict production standards. FIT Organic products carry multiple certifications that attest to their innate quality. FIT Organic is also a cruelty free company, with no products tested on animals. For more information on FIT Organic products, please visit www.fitorganic.com.

View original content with multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fit-organic-to-donate-mosquito-repellent-to-harvey-victims-300522485.html

The Honest Truth About So-Called "Natural" Products

There has recently been a lot of press about natural cleaning brands and the ingredients they use. As a Chemical Engineer with over 20 years of experience formulating laundry detergents and other cleaning products, I feel the need to set the record straight on the science behind the marketing spin.

The Wall Street Journal has recently reported Jessica Alba's Honest Company is using chemicals that contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (abbreviated as "SLS") when in fact Honest claims on their packaging the products are "SLS free."

Honest uses a blend of chemicals called "Sodium Coco Sulfate" or "SCS" as their main cleaning ingredient in products such as their laundry detergent, multi-surface cleaner, and hand dish products. These ingredients are commonly known as "surfactants" in the detergent industry. Honest isn't the only company that uses this so-called "natural" surfactant: Earth Friendly Products under their Ecos brand name uses SCS too, as well as other brands such as Johnson and Johnson's Natural Baby Shampoo.

Unfortunately for consumers, using the ingredient name "Sodium Coco Sulfate" hides an ugly truth: the number one chemical found in SCS is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate! Over 50% of the chemicals found in SCS are in fact SLS.

To emphasize this point, SLS is not a trace chemical found in SCS, nor is SLS left over in the manufacturing process as a mistake. The very reason a company would want to use SCS is because it contains SLS as the number one ingredient. The Sodium Lauryl Sulfate found in SCS is the reason these products are able to foam, create bubbles, and clean well. The SLS is in these products by design, not by mistake.

What exactly is SLS? To be precise, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a surfactant with 12 carbon atoms lined up in a row (called a "C12 chain" for short) and comes from coconut or palm oil. SLS is also known by its more formal name "Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate" or "SDS".

In order to make SLS/SDS, the fatty alcohols from plant oils are treated with reactive chemicals such as sulfur trioxide gas. This is hardly a "natural" process!

The resulting chemical formula for SLS looks like this: C(12)H(25)NaO(4)S

This is what SLS molecule looks like:

Ironically, Honest has recently admitted in a blog post this C12 sulfated surfactant pictured above is in their formula, and confirmed the C12 surfactant is part of the SCS blend they use. In other words, there is no debate that the chemical shown above IS in Honest's laundry detergent, dish products, hard surface cleaners, etc. Honest admits this themselves.

But Honest refuses to call this surfactant by its correct scientific name: SLS! Honest can't simply make up names for chemicals when the correct reference is well known and understood by everyone.

To make no doubt about it, all one has to do is look up the formal chemical name for this molecule used in Honest's products on the US Government's National Institute of Health website. The NIH calls this molecule "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate" - case closed!  To put it simply: the C12 surfactant referenced by Honest in their blog post is SLS, according the the National Institute of Health.

What is a concerned consumer to do? Are there any other cleaning products that don't contain SLS?

Yes! Simply choose cleaning products that are certified USDA organic. Unlike the marketing claims on Honest's or Ecos' labels, which are not reviewed or approved by any government agency before they are shipped, all certified organic products must have their formulations reviewed, the labels and claims checked for accuracy, and the manufacturing facilities audited by outside third parties to make sure there are no violations. It is simply illegal to sell a certified organic cleaning product that contains SLS in it - period.

I personally created the line of Fit Organic cleaning products with the goal of FINALLY giving naturally minded consumers what they really want: cleaning products that work without the worry of using harsh chemicals like SLS. Our independent certifications from organizations such as the Oregon Tilth Company (OTCO) confirm to consumers that they are not getting harsh chemicals they want to avoid.

In summary, don't be fooled by green-washing marketing tactics. Don't pay a premium for cleaning products that use a celebrity actress as a spokesperson but are not really natural.

If you want to buy truly SLS-free cleaning products, buy brands that proudly display the certified USDA organic logo instead. We would be honored if you would try FIT Organic as a new way to clean - organically!

Sincerely,

Todd Wichmann
CEO, President & Founder
HealthPro Brands Inc.
Makers of the Fit Organic Brand
www.fitorganic.com

Fit Organic Launches Certified USDA Organic Baby Laundry Detergent

Household Cleaning Products Can Affect Your Health

There are so many cleaning product choices available on the shelf. Many promote a “natural” or “green” clean that tricks us into thinking that it is the better option for our homes. Unfortunately, there are NO regulations on either of these terms. Any company can slap the word natural or green on their product without meeting any certain requirements or certifications and trick you into thinking you’ve made a healthy, safe choice. As you can see from this article written by the American Lung Association (click on link below), it’s important to read product labels to ensure you are avoiding a host of harmful chemicals that can potentially lead to chronic health issues.

Want an even easier solution? Choose organic! All USDA certified organic products have to meet STRICT standards and are free from dangerous chemicals. Another reason to choose Fit Organic!

 http://www.lung.org/healthy-air/home/resources/cleaning-supplies.html

The Difference Between Natural and Organic

What is the difference between "natural" and "organic" cleaning products?  Both give the impression that they are better for us and contain only ingredients “naturally” derived and therefore safe for us to use in our homes, right?

Wrong!

Unfortunately, the use of the word “natural” on cleaning product labels is not regulated. These products can contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (an artificial surfactant that can cause skin irritation, endocrine disruption, etc) and other ingredients that clearly are not “natural” or safer for the environment.

For example, here is the ingredient list for Earth Friendly's Dishmate (hand dish) product, copied from their own website:

Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Phenoxyethanol and Methylisothiazolinone (synthetic preservatives), Natural Fragrance.

If you can't read the ingredients and understand what they are, you are in trouble!  The only thing "natural" about this Earth Friendly dish product is the perfume!  

Here is another example from Seventh Generation's Laundry Detergent, again copied from their own website::

Ingredients: Water, laureth-6, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium citrate, glycerin, oleic acid, boric acid, sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride, protease, amylase and mannanase (enzymes), benzisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (synthetic preservatives)

How can Seventh Generation advertise their laundry detergent as "natural" when they include ingredients such as SLS, enzymes, and synthetic preservatives?  Unfortunately many consumers are fooled by a nice looking "earthy" label without ever reading the ingredients on the back.

Certified USDA Organic products on the other hand are very different. Products with the certified USDA organic symbol on them have had to go through a rigorous process to ensure they meet strict standards, do not contain harmful chemicals (like SLS), and must be compromised of at least 95% or higher organically produced ingredients.

Unlike the unregulated "natural" products, all of the certified organic products have to be audited, inspected, and approved by third party agencies such as the prestigious Oregon Tilth Company (OTCO). 

Big difference, right?

So the next time you head to the store, stay clear of “natural” cleaning products, and only purchase cleaning products with the Certified USDA Organic seal on them.

Remember, “natural” really means nothing!