Cascade ‘Free & Clear’ Dish Detergents

Cascade advertises that its “free & clear” dish detergents are formulated without “unwanted ingredients” like chlorine bleach, dyes and heavy perfumes. But, as highlighted by a number of consumer complaints, the dishwasher pods and gel aren’t free and clear of all unwanted ingredients.

Specifically, the lemon-scented products contain a variety of fragrance ingredients – including limonene, geraniol and decanal – that have led several consumers to object to the marketing of the detergents as “free & clear.” This includes a TINA.org reader who said “free & clear” should mean “free of fragrances.”

Others have left similar complaints on the dishwasher pods’ product page and Amazon listing asking why a product advertised as “free & clear” contains fragrance, which has a high allergen risk.

TINA.org reached out to Procter & Gamble, which makes Cascade dish detergents, for comment. We did not hear back.

The bottom line

“Free and clear” does not mean “fragrance-free” or “clear of fragrance,” at least not for Cascade dish detergents. If you are looking for something that does not contain fragrance, check the label and consider products that have been reviewed by the EPA and have received its fragrance-free certification.

Find more of our coverage on ingredient claims.