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The clothianidin controversy

It’s bad for honey bees, admits the EPA

By Culinate staff

January 25, 2011

Late last year, the Environmental Protection Agency leaked a memo linking a particular pesticide — clothianidin — with the massive honey bee die-offs that have been threatening not just bees but the world’s food supply. Now come calls to ban the pesticide, which is used to treat seeds, then expressed in the resulting plants’ pollen and nectar. Made by the German company Bayer, clothianidin was banned in its country of origin in 2008 after the country suffered its own serious wave of honey-bee death. But it’s still legal here.

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There are 2 comments on this item

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1. by Mary on Sep 7, 2011 at 3:27 AM PDT

This is so shocking! I can’t believe that large corporates are allowed to get away with this while our government agencies appear to stand back. Surely the EU should bring in legislation to ban clothianidin?

2. by George on Apr 9, 2013 at 1:11 PM PDT

The EPA knew for many years that these neonicotinoids were highly toxic to bees but has allowed their use over millions of acres decimating honeybee populations and then shifting the blame on varroa mites and viruses and constantly saying we need more research or we don’t have evidence that these neonicotinoids are the problem. Dragging their feet to make Shure Bayer crap science, Syngenta, and Monsanto rake in big profits at the expense of our environment. All these ex Monsanto employees at the EPA need to be removed and replaced with real scientist and these neurotoxic neonicotinoids immediately banned.

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