Scotts Recall of Turf Products FAQ
Scotts Recall Sales Force Team General Questions and Answers General Questions
| Q: | Why is Scotts Miracle-Gro recalling its Shake 'n Feed Plus Weed Preventer, TurfBuilder MAX and Bonus S MAX products? |
| A: | We are recalling these products because Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed plus Weed Preventer is not registered with the U.S. EPA, while the Bonus S MAX and TurfBuilder MAX are not properly labeled. |
| Q: | Does this recall include regular Scotts TurfBuilder with Plus 2 or the non MAX formula of Bonus S? |
| A: | No. The recall only affects the TB and Bonus S MAX products. |
| Q: | How much product is being recalled? |
| A: | Scotts is conducting a recall of all sizes of Shake 'n Feed Plus Weed Preventer (4.5lb, 8lb and 1oz sample) and Bonus S Max (5M, 10M and 12M) that are in retailers stores and warehouses, as well as product that the consumer may have at home. Scotts is also conducting a recall of TurfBuilder MAX (5M) that is in retailers stores and warehouses. |
| Q: | What states/markets (including non-U.S.) are affected? |
| A: | This is a nationwide retail and consumer recall. Bonus S was distributed in only 13 states. The other products were distributed nationwide. |
| Q: | For how long have the unregistered products been sold? |
| A: | These products have been sold since introduced into the marketplace in 2006. |
| Q: | When did Scotts discover this problem and what is the company doing about it? |
| A: | The EPA recently notified Scotts of this issue. Scotts immediately
began working with the EPA to remedy the situation. We learned that one
of our former employees circumvented company policies and caused the
invalid product registrations. The Company terminated the employee in question and has made the decision to engage an independent consulting firm to review its regulatory compliance processes and procedures. Retail (Restock, Disposal and Compensation) Questions 2 |
| Q: | What should be done with products that retailers have on their shelves? |
| A: | All products should be removed from the shelves and stored in a
secure area for return to our facilities as soon as possible. Retailers can
contact Scotts in one of 4 ways: 1. Website (www.scottsreturns.com/fertilizer) 2. Email (customer.service.Marysville@scotts.com) 3. Fax (1-866-687-9314) 4. Phone (1-888-295-6902) |
| Q: | When will retailers get the unregistered product again? |
| A: | We hope to prepare and submit to EPA in the future, the documents needed for EPA to evaluate these registrations. However, the current status precludes the products from being offered for sale at this time. |
| Q: | Why should retailers trust Scotts Miracle-Gro after the company has disrupted my heavy sales season? |
| A: | Scotts is committed to providing quality lawn and garden products to
retailers and consumers. We have a 140-year history as a responsible
manufacturer, marketer and supplier of lawn and garden products. Scotts is conducting an on-going internal review. We are committed to correcting this situation and implementing measures to seek to avoid any reoccurrences. We intend to work with federal and state regulatory authorities to correct his situation and to regain your trust. |
| Q: | How do I know that other Scotts products have EPA acceptance? |
| A: | Scotts is committed to providing quality lawn and garden products to
retailers and consumers. We have a 140-year history as a responsible
manufacturer, marketer and supplier of lawn and garden products. Scotts is conducting an on-going internal review. We are committed to correcting this situation and implementing measures to seek to avoid any reoccurrences. We intend to work with federal and state regulatory authorities to correct this situation and to regain your trust. The hallmark of a product that has EPA acceptance is the EPA Registration Number. A consumer should look for this, and they can always check with EPA on the registration status of any product. 3 TALKING POINTS FOR CALL CENTER inserted here: |
| Q: | Why are you recalling these products? |
| A: | The products are either not registered with the EPA or not properly labeled. |
| Q: | Do I need to return these products? |
| A: | Yes, you should return the products. Please immediately discontinue use of the product and store in a cool, dry, out of the way location away from children and pets, such as a secure cabinet. You will be provided with a refund check, packaging material, and detailed instructions for returning the product to Scotts. When you receive these, you must carefully follow all instructions for return in the package you receive from Scotts. |
| Q: | Can I throw them away? |
| A: | No. Please immediately discontinue use of the product and store in a cool, dry, outof- the-way location away from children and pets, such as a secure cabinet. |
| Q: | How do I get a refund? |
| A: | We will issue a full refund check of the original purchase price for the products you have. Also, we will send you a coupon good toward your next Scotts or Miracle-Gro purchase. |
| Q: | I bought Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed. Is the only Shake 'n Feed product that being recalled? |
| A: | The only Shake 'n Feed product being recalled is the Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed Plus Weed Preventer. The product can be identified by its distinctive bright yellow jug with green circular cap. The sample size is a small packet. |
| Q: | Have Scotts LawnService companies also been instructed not to use the recalled products? |
| A: | Yes. SLS only used the Halts Pro products. On April 17, 2008, Scotts directed that SLS branches and SLS franchisees cease use of the recalled Halts Pro products immediately. If the SLS customer is calling from NY, that customer must be redirected to the NY SLS branch. |
