Issue 6, June 28, 2019
Contaminated Neem Oil Products
On June 20th- The Oregon Department of Agriculture stopped the sale of 6 products containing neem due to pesticide contamination. According to the National Pesticide Information Center- Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree. It is yellow to brown, has a bitter taste, and a garlic/sulfur smell. It has been used for hundreds of years to control pests and diseases. Neem oil is a mixture of components. Azadirachtin is the most active component for repelling and killing pests and can be extracted from neem oil. The portion left over is called clarified hydrophobic neem oil. The products tested in Oregon found malathion, chlorpyrifos, and permethrins. These additional pesticides were not on the label and not approved for organic use, and therefore a statewide removal of these products was issued for Oregon.
- Bonide, Neem Oil, EPA #70051-2-4, Lot #18082202
- Schultz Company, Garden Safe brand, Neem Oil Extract, EPA #70051-2-39609, Lot #U071818 L 002817
- Woodstream Corporation, Safer Brand, Neem Oil, EPA #70051-2-42697, Lot #LBL5182B 0617
- Lawn and Garden Products Inc, Monterey, 70% Neem Oil, EPA #70051-2-54705, Lot # 1800241958 MLN #70892947
- Certis, Trilogy, EPA #70051-2, Lot #71133547
- Bayer Advanced, Natria Neem Oil, EPA #70051-2-72155, Lot #NP65FX7081
Pennslyvania has also issued a warning to consumers about these products. https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=799
For more information- you can read the full release here.
https://odanews.wpengine.com/a-complaint-leads-oda-to-issue-stop-sale-use-and-removal-order-for-6-over-the-counter-pesticide-products-claiming-to-be-organic/
Author:
Maria Turner