Marysville, Ohio-The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. said April 23 that it is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding a nationwide recall of the company’s Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed with Weed Preventer All Purpose Plant Food. The action was initiated in connection with an investigation of the products’ federal registration. Scotts said EPA has also requested a recall of a weed control product used by Scotts LawnService. That product is no longer being used by the company and has never been available for sale to the consumer. Scotts stressed that both products are similar to others on the market that have been approved for sale and use by EPA. Scotts does not believe either of the products poses any unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. Scotts also announced that on April 10, 2008, it learned of a governmental investigation, which the company believes is being led by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. EPA, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Scotts stressed that it has been working proactively and voluntarily with the government since it learned of the investigation. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed with Weed Preventer All Purpose Plant Food is sold primarily through home center stores, mass merchant retailers, supermarkets, hardware stores, and independent lawn and garden centers. Retailers that carry this product are being advised to stop the sale of and remove this product from store shelves. No other ScottsMiracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed products are affected by this recall. Consumers can distinguish Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed with Weed Preventer All Purpose Plant Food by its distinctive bright yellow jug with green circular cap. All other Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed products are packed in dark green jugs with yellow or other colored caps for specific plant food applications. The recalled product includes the following UPC Code info: UPC#: 073561008365 – Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed with Weed Preventer, 4.5 lb. yellow plastic applicator jug; and UPC#: 073561048361 – Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed with Weed Preventer, 8.0 lb. yellow plastic applicator jug, which is only sold through the club channel. The product, which has been marketed since December 2006, represents approximately $10 million in annual sales. In fiscal 2007, Scotts reported company-wide sales of $2.9 billion. Although EPA has requested that the Scotts LawnService product, Halts Pro, be recalled as well, the company stressed that the Halts products sold in bags at retail are unaffected by this action. For more recall information, se http://www.scottsmiraclegro.com/.
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