As someone who advocates for the vegan lifestyle, Mary Ruth’s is a brand that hits home because it has always been completely vegan. And if you’ve been following us, we tend to review vegan supplements to determine their effectiveness.
This time around, we’re going to zoom out a bit and give you the big picture on Mary Ruth’s brand to see if it’s the real deal and if it aligns with what you value.
Is Mary Ruth’s Transparent?
More often than not, supplement brands are loaded with promises and no substance, which is why the industry is often regarded as shady.
You might have a supplement that claims to have 5mg of magnesium, when in fact, it might have less upon closer inspection— hence the importance of finding a brand that is wholly transparent and discloses third-party test results.
So, how transparent is Mary Ruth’s when it comes to third-party testing?
Enter The Clean Label Project
Mary Ruth’s is certified by the Clean Label Project, which is an initiative that claims to push the boundaries of product safety and transparency, going beyond what most regulatory standards demand.
For instance, while the U.S. regulatory framework primarily zooms in on pathogens and microbiological contaminants, the Clean Label Project takes a broader perspective, referencing the stringent standards set by California’s Proposition 65, also formally known as the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, which aims to protect consumers from industrial and environmental contaminants.
However, the Clean Label Project has received some criticism, particularly from people in the Reddit community.
It seems that even though the Clean Label Project claims to test products for various contaminants and provides certification based on results, there has been criticism that they don’t disclose specific amounts of contaminants found in individual products, in other words, there are no certificates of analysis.
I went searching for information concerning any potential test results for Mary Ruth’s products, but I found nothing. A brand that publishes certificates of analysis is Ora Organic, and you can find an example of it here.
Because there’s a lack of actual numbers, it’s hard to tell whether or not Mary Ruth’s is really transparent about what’s on their products.
So, Is Mary Ruth’s A Brand You Can Trust?
I would err on the side of caution with Mary Ruth’s as I came across some dubious information online.
For instance, there was a situation where Mary Ruth’s recalled two batches of its liquid probiotic for infants due to concerns about possible contamination with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
While this bacterium is generally harmless for most, it can pose risks for certain individuals, such as the very young or those with weakened immune systems, however, this instance did lead to legal proceedings later on.
According to an announcement made by the FDA, the only product complaint the company has received with respect to the affected product lots was one report of temporary diarrhea in an older infant after consuming the product, which the company does not believe was related to the presence of the microorganism.
Regardless of what’s true, that eventually led to Mary Ruth’s recalling the product.
This makes one question the brand’s testing process, but it’s also something that could happen to any brand, and it’s not like it’s a common event.
With that being said, it’s not a good look for a brand like Mary Ruth’s which is primarily known for being a clean and safe brand.
Can You Trust The Fact That It’s Organic?
A brand that proudly showcases ‘organic’ in its name generally commits to delivering authentically organic products.
Although there were initial concerns in 2020 about the certification of its product’s organic status, as of now, that has been addressed.
Mary Ruth’s products are USDA Organic certified, which shows that most of their products can be considered organic.
Curiously, a certificate doesn’t imply that all ingredients in a formula are organic. Specifically, the USDA certificate mandates that a formula consists of at least 70% organic ingredients.
That detail aside, Mary Ruth’s does surpass the efforts of many companies in demonstrating the organic authenticity of its products.
And Are Its Products Really Made In The USA?
There are people who don’t appreciate the term “made in the USA” because they believe it’s disingenuous and doesn’t reveal the whole truth.
In other words, it is a term that, more often than not, implies that the supplement (say, the capsules) is manufactured in the USA but the ingredients are sourced from a country outside the US.
Like most brands, this is exactly what Mary Ruth’s does as well— they say that their products are US-made, but in reality, the ingredients (not all, of course) come from other countries— and this is, in my opinion, pretty normal because not every ingredient grows in the US, and if you’re relying on more unique ingredients, they’re bound to come from somewhere else.
This is the reality for many other types of products as well— if you wanna have coffee, then it’ll probably come from countries like Brazil or Colombia. That’s just how it is as not all countries have a suitable climate for coffee production.
What would be preferable, considering that Mary Ruth’s is a vegan brand would be for its ingredients to be sourced from ethical suppliers, but there’s no information about its suppliers— so If Mary Ruth’s was concerned about supply chain ethics, I think they would be vocal about it and state it on their website. I did not find anything about it.
When I’m picking a brand to buy from, I’m generally looking for one that is completely in on ethics and sustainability, or I’ll find the one with best values overall.
Is There a Better Alternative to Mary Ruth’s?
Frankly, it’s not easy to find a brand that is wholly transparent and open to sharing its certificate of analysis (COA).
Among the brands that are closely similar to Mary Ruth’s, the one that is most transparent in terms of openly publishing COAs on their website and caring about supply chain ethics and sustainability, I think Ora Organic might be the best one.
They have a strict supplier code of conduct that allows them to filter suppliers that respect Ora Organic’s criteria— which touch upon worker’s pay, safety, and the use of resources in production… among other principles.
To Summarize
Well, let me just say that compared to most brands out there, Mary Ruth’s isn’t bad— although you may be able to find brands that are more transparent in terms of providing you with COAs, and also being more vocal about supply chain ethics and sustainability.
However, for a brand to be checking all those boxes, you’ll generally be paying a premium— which in my opinion is acceptable if it implies safety, ethics, and a more environmentally friendly product.
But then again, this will depend on whatever you value the most, and I suppose that for most people it is knowing that whatever supplement they purchase is safe.
