Listen to this PodcastMore 60-Second Earth
Birds face many man-made mortal threats: windows, cats, habitat destruction, even climate change. And now, there's poison—in their bird seed.
You see the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company had been in the habit of applying banned pesticides to its wild bird food products. In particular, the company applied a chemical known as Storcide II to its bird food despite a warning label for that product that reads "Storcide II is extremely toxic to fish and toxic to birds and other wildlife."
Why add a compound toxic to birds to food meant to be eaten by birds? Because Scott didn't want bugs infesting its bird food during storage.
By the time Scotts stopped adding the pesticide in March 2008, the company had sold some 70 million bags of adulterated bird food. The company also submitted false documents to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, distributed pesticides with misleading labels and distributed illegal pesticides. As a result, the EPA slapped the company with $12.5 million in criminal fines and civil penalties.
So when you put out new bird seed this winter, at least you won't be inadvertently poisoning any chirpers. Oh, and keep those cats inside, too.
—David Biello
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
See what we're tweeting about
7 Comments
Add CommentThe EPA slapped them with a 12.5 million fine? How bloody ridiculous! Have you checked Scotts Miracle-Gro's turnover? Nearly 3 billion a year? In 2011 they had a net income (afer managers' bonuses) of 167 millon? NET! That slap is a JOKE. EPA = Ensuring that Profits stay Attractive. Scotts made a "killing" against which the slap is ridiculous.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNot to mention that the responsible managers should go to jail and there are a good number of reasons for that.
But then look what happened to the bankers. Still laughing all the way to their desks.
It's becoming increassingly profitable to be criminal - if you are rich.
And, this, the reason why corporations should not have been given the same level of freedoms as individuals...they're not individuals. We can't put a corporation in jail for its crimes or hang them by the neck when they murder. Rights come with responsibilities and consequences...unless you're a corporation then you get it all!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDid it matter to Scotts that the pesticide was toxic to birds and that it was illegal to apply to food grown for birds? Not in the slightest as long as they could make big profits. I can hear the outcry though "why are you guys picking on Scotts?" Poor company having to deal with regulations preventing the unadulterated misuse of pesticides.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMuch better to feed birds directly, by growing plants which they can eat safely and healthily.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf our gardens include trees, shrubs and hedges for nesting habitat and fruit and seed for food, and we leave flowers to go to seed for food, then we'll be doing the birds far more good than if we give our money to unethical businesses which are cynically cashing in on our desire to do good.
Here in Britain, the garden centres which sell bird seed are the same garden centres which sell pesticides such as metaldehyde slug pellets, killing equipment such as mole traps, and the irrigation equipment which encourages people to take water out of natural habitats.
It's about time we had some 'green' garden centres.
It appears that Scotts is a victim of "job killing" regulations that Republicans plan to repeal.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCorporations allow culprits to remain invisible. Some
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisperson gave the OK. You have to wonder what is absent from the mind of those making such decisions.
Only way to stop a corporation like this one is to not buy their products!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this