Misleading
Pesticide Labels
Red Cross Symbol on Clorox Products Misleads on Safety
Background
Materials
In $1 Million
Deal, EPA For First Time Allows Red Cross Symbol on Pesticide Products;
Groups Say Label Misleads on Consumer Safety and Violates Law
The 50 state
pesticide regulatory agencies were asked today in a letter from the
national public health and environmental group Beyond Pesticides not
to allow the marketing of pesticide products labeled with the Red Cross
symbol under a $1 million cause-related marketing campaign launched
by the Clorox Company. Last month, a dozen groups petitioned EPA to
stop the release of a new soon-to-be released label with the Red Cross
symbol, which they say will mislead consumers and violates federal law
prohibiting such labeling.
(Washington, DC,
March 12, 2007) All state agencies regulating pesticide use were asked
today by environmental health advocates to prohibit the marketing of
pesticide products with a new label that displays the Red Cross symbol
because it violates federal pesticide law and misleads consumers on
product safety. Clorox says on some of its new soon-to-be released pesticide
labels that it will donate up to $1 million to the Red Cross when people
purchase the products. Last month, a dozen groups petitioned EPA to
stop the release of the new labels, which they say will mislead consumers
and violates federal law prohibiting such labeling.
According to a
letter sent to state regulators by the national public health and environmental
group Beyond Pesticides, “The use of the Red Cross symbol implies
an endorsement of the product and may imply an endorsement of its safety
to many, which may mislead users and contribute to product misuse.”
While Clorox products
are mistakenly viewed as safe chemical products without potential hazards,
they do contain toxic materials that must be handled very carefully.
Some of the products require that they be diluted with water and warn
that they can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal
tract. Exposure to high levels can result in severe corrosive damage
to the eyes, skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal tissues. The label
on some Clorox products warns, “Although not expected, heart conditions
or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or
obstructive lung disease may be aggravated by exposure to high concentrations
of vapor or mist.” Some of the products are suspected neurotoxicants.
”While EPA should ensure severe caution when using pesticides,
a label displaying the Red Cross symbol sends a misleading message that
will undoubtedly result in greater product misuse because of a failure
to heed important product warnings,” said Jay Feldman, executive
director of Beyond Pesticides.
Twelve environmental
health organizations petitioned EPA in February, citing a blatant violation
of its own guidelines which prohibit false and misleading labels, including:
“Symbols implying safety or nontoxicity, such as a Red Cross or
a medical seal of approval (caduceus).” EPA’s own review
finds compliance with labels tied to consumer perception of product
safety.
