Supermarket chain Kroger Co. enacted a policy in late June 2018 to protect honeybees and other pollinators, which included a promise to phase out the sale of neonicotinoid pesticides in its stores and garden centers by 2020. [1]
Just a week before the company’s announcement, Kroger shareholders called for accountability for the company’s inaction on phasing out pesticides that are toxic to both pollinators and people. [2]
Live plants sold at Kroger garden centers aren’t currently treated with neonicotinoids while they’re growing. The retailer’s suppliers are seeking out alternatives for the remaining products. [1]
Read: Most Top Retailers Sell Food Produced with Bee-Killing Pesticides
Kroger will also track, measure, and report on the progress the company is making. The retailer also plans to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other scientific bodies to evaluate any future changes to the policy.
In a statement, Kroger Co. said:
“The Kroger Co. recognizes the global honeybee population is vulnerable, with research indicating that a cause may include the use of pesticides containing neonicotinoids.
Due to the potential risk to the honeybee population, we are committing to eliminate the sourcing of live outdoor plants in our stores and garden centers that have been treated with pesticides containing these neonicotinoids by the year 2020.
This policy is inclusive of outdoor plants known to be pollinated by honeybees or known to attract honeybees.”
The retailer went on to say:
“Kroger remains open to continued engagement and dialogue with stakeholders on this important topic and will revisit and update its policy in the future.” [2]
Kroger is home to one of the largest organic produce departments in the United States, representing nearly 20% of the U.S.’s annual organic produce business.
It was also one of the first retailers to reject GMO GM AquAdvantage® salmon.
Sources:
Featured image source: Tom Banse / Northwest News Network
Did you know that a major pharmaceutical company was broken up and given ‘new’ names after WWII? The pharmaceutical company was Germany’s I.G. FARBEN. which was into all kinds of chemical experimentation of the most hideous kind. It was working to develop formulas to kill mass numbers of people and harm everything else. PURE EVIL. The gas used in the gas chambers where MILLIONS OF JEWS, political prisoners and those deemed unworthy of life were murdered was a PESTICIDE called zyclon-B.
After WWII, the company was broken up into 3 different parts but I.G. Farben STILL ‘REMAINED’ because they only wanted THE NAME hidden. The NEW names for the three companies are, a German-named company, BAYER and BASF. BAYER just bought Monsanto in June of 2018. Monsanto is being sued and has now lost HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars because of cancer being caused by the usage of their products.
Monsanto’s product RoundUp has a chemical in it called glyphosate which is a drying agent and weed killer. It’s so bad even California made Monstanto put a ‘cancer warning’ on its label. Farmers spray that on their fields to dry the crops faster. If you think your breakfast cereal is healthy THINK AGAIN!
Quaker Oats oatmeal and other products made with oats (like Nature Valley granola etc.and all store brands) and Cherrios ARE LOADED WITH IT. Look for non-gmo AND ORGANIC cereals and oats ON LINE.
For years people have been asking, “What’s happening to all the bees?” Well duh!
If you see labels with ‘The Bayer FAMILY of products’ or something similar IT’S STILL MONSANTO.