Scotts Miracle-Gro, Roundup, and Lawn Chemicals: The Bird Food Case and What Research Shows for Kids and Pets

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the largest U.S. marketer of consumer lawn and garden products, with brands such as Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho, and for decades it has also marketed consumer Roundup weed killer under an agreement with Monsanto, now Bayer. For people who avoid Monsanto because of concerns about glyphosate and agrochemicals, critics argued that buying Scotts products supports the same business. Scotts also faced its own scandal: in 2012 it paid what was then the largest criminal fine in the history of the federal pesticide law, after admitting it sold wild bird food treated with insecticides toxic to birds.

This article reviews the Scotts case, the company’s relationship with Roundup, what research shows about lawn pesticides and the health of children and pets, and how homeowners can maintain healthy lawns with fewer chemicals.

Is Scotts Miracle-Gro connected to Monsanto and Roundup? Yes, as a marketer, not owner. Scotts holds the exclusive license to market consumer Roundup in the U.S., though Bayer (which bought Monsanto) makes it. Scotts has also faced legal trouble, including a criminal case over illegally applying pesticides to bird food. Lawn chemicals raise real safety questions for pets and children, so following label directions and limiting use is wise.

What Was the Scotts Bird Food Case?

Scotts pleaded guilty to federal charges after it illegally applied unregistered pesticides toxic to birds to its bird food products and falsified records, resulting in significant fines. Agri-Pulse reported in September 2012 that a federal court in Columbus, Ohio, sentenced Scotts to pay a $4 million fine and perform community service for 11 criminal violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Scotts had pleaded guilty to illegally applying insecticides toxic to birds to its wild bird food products, falsifying pesticide registration documents, distributing pesticides with misleading and unapproved labels, and distributing unregistered pesticides. The company admitted applying the pesticides Actellic 5E and Storcide II to bird food even though the EPA had prohibited this use, despite a label warning that Storcide II is extremely toxic to fish and toxic to birds and other wildlife. By the time Scotts recalled the products in March 2008, it had sold more than 70 million units of treated bird food. In addition, Scotts agreed to a $6 million civil penalty and environmental projects valued at $2 million to protect 300 acres of land.

A U.S. Department of Justice bulletin noted that Scotts sold the treated bird food for six months after employees warned management of the dangers, and that the company also pleaded guilty for the fraudulent conduct of its federal registration manager, who led distributors and customers to believe that certain pesticides were registered with the EPA when they were not.

How Is Scotts Connected to Roundup and Monsanto?

Scotts Miracle-Gro holds the exclusive license to market and distribute consumer Roundup in the United States; Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) made the product, while Scotts handles its consumer marketing. Since the late 1990s, Scotts has served as Monsanto’s exclusive agent for marketing and distributing consumer Roundup products for home lawns and gardens in the United States and other markets, while Monsanto owned the brand and manufactured the active ingredient. After Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, the relationship continued with Bayer. Amid litigation over glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Bayer announced in 2021 that it would replace glyphosate in Roundup products sold for U.S. residential lawn and garden use, a change implemented in 2023, while continuing to sell glyphosate for agricultural and professional use. Newer residential Roundup formulations use other active ingredients such as diquat, fluazifop, imazapic, and triclopyr, depending on the product. Consumers who want to avoid any chemical herbicides need to check labels carefully, since brand names can cover many formulations.

Are Lawn Chemicals Dangerous to Pets?

Some lawn chemicals can harm pets, and studies have linked certain herbicides like 2,4-D to higher rates of cancers such as canine lymphoma, so pets should be kept off treated lawns until dry. A 2004 case-control study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association by Lawrence Glickman and colleagues at Purdue University compared 83 Scottish Terriers with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and 83 with other conditions. Dogs exposed to lawns or gardens treated with herbicides alone had 3.62 times higher odds of bladder cancer, and those exposed to lawns treated with both herbicides and insecticides had 7.19 times higher odds, while insecticides alone were not significantly associated. Scottish Terriers have a genetic predisposition to this cancer, making them sensitive sentinels. The authors advised owners to minimize their dogs’ access to lawns treated with phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D until more research is done.

A 2013 follow-up study in Science of the Total Environment by Deborah Knapp and colleagues measured lawn herbicides including 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba in the urine of pet dogs. Chemicals were detected in dogs’ urine in 14 of 25 households before lawn treatment, 19 of 25 after treatment, and 4 of 8 untreated households, and residues were found on grass from untreated lawns, suggesting drift from neighboring treated areas. Herbicides persisted longer on grass that was dry or brown.

Earlier Evidence: 2,4-D and Canine Lymphoma

Concerns about lawn herbicides and dogs predate the Scottish Terrier studies. A 1991 case-control study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Howard Hayes and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute found that owners of dogs with malignant lymphoma applied 2,4-D herbicides to their lawns or used commercial lawn care companies more often than owners of control dogs (odds ratio 1.3), and that risk rose to a twofold excess when owners applied 2,4-D four or more times a year. The study drew attention because lymphoma in dogs resembles non-Hodgkin lymphoma in people, but later reanalyses debated the strength of the association, and 2,4-D remains approved for lawn use. The findings, together with the bladder cancer studies, support the cautious approach of keeping pets off freshly treated lawns.

Are Lawn Chemicals Harmful to Children?

Children are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure, and some studies associate home and lawn pesticide use with higher risk of certain childhood cancers, supporting caution and limiting children’s contact with treated areas. Children play on lawns, put hands in their mouths, and are more vulnerable to chemical exposures during development. A 2015 meta-analysis in Pediatrics by Mei Chen, Chensheng Lu, and colleagues found that childhood exposure to indoor residential insecticides was associated with a 47 percent higher risk of childhood leukemia and a 43 percent higher risk of lymphoma, while outdoor insecticide exposure was not significantly associated; herbicide exposure was associated with a 26 percent higher leukemia risk. The authors recommended preventive measures to reduce children’s exposure to pesticides at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2012 policy statement similarly noted associations between parental pesticide use and childhood cancers and urged reducing exposure.

How Do Lawn Chemicals Get Inside the Home?

Lawn chemicals can be tracked indoors on shoes, paws, and clothing, where they settle in carpets and dust and can persist, increasing exposure for young children who play on floors. Lawn pesticides do not stay on the lawn. A 2001 study in Environmental Health Perspectives by Marcia Nishioka and colleagues sampled indoor air, surfaces, and floor dust in homes before and after lawn applications of 2,4-D. After application, 2,4-D was detected in indoor air and on all surfaces in every home, with track-in by an active dog and by the person who applied the product as the most significant routes. Estimated exposures for young children from touching floors and table tops rose to about ten times pre-application levels and could exceed typical dietary intake of 2,4-D. Simple steps such as removing shoes at the door, wiping pets’ paws, and keeping children and pets off treated areas reduce this indoor exposure.

Childhood Leukemia and Home Pesticide Use

Beyond the 2015 meta-analysis described above, a 2010 meta-analysis in Environmental Health Perspectives by Michelle Turner and colleagues pooled 15 studies and found that exposure during pregnancy to unspecified residential pesticides was associated with a 54 percent higher odds of childhood leukemia, insecticides with roughly double the odds, and herbicides with 61 percent higher odds. Most studies relied on parents’ recall of pesticide use, which can introduce bias, and specific products were rarely identified. The authors called for better exposure measurement, but the consistency of findings across studies supports precautions during pregnancy and early childhood.

Growing a Healthy Lawn With Fewer Chemicals

Practice	How it helps
Mow high (3 inches or more)	Taller grass shades out weeds and develops deeper roots
Water deeply but infrequently	Encourages deep roots and drought tolerance
Leave grass clippings	Returns nutrients to the soil, reducing fertilizer needs
Test soil and use compost	Corrects deficiencies and builds soil health
Overseed thin areas	Dense turf leaves less room for weeds
Hand-pull or spot-treat weeds	Avoids broadcast herbicide applications
Accept some clover and diversity	Clover fixes nitrogen and supports pollinators

If homeowners or lawn services do apply pesticides, keeping children and pets off treated areas until products dry or for the time listed on the label, following label directions exactly, avoiding application before rain, and wiping pets’ paws after walks can reduce exposure. Many communities and some states have restricted cosmetic pesticide use on school grounds, parks, and playing fields, and some municipalities have adopted pesticide-free park policies.

Who Scotts Is

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, is the largest U.S. marketer of consumer lawn and garden products, with brands including Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Ortho, and Tomcat, alongside its role marketing consumer Roundup. Its products range from grass seed and fertilizers to weed killers, insect controls, and potting soils. The company also expanded into hydroponics and indoor growing through a subsidiary. Because its products are used on millions of home lawns, its practices influence how much pesticide and fertilizer ends up in residential environments and local waterways.

Weed-and-Feed Products

Combination “weed-and-feed” products mix fertilizer with herbicides such as 2,4-D, mecoprop (MCPP), and dicamba, applying weed killer across the entire lawn whether or not weeds are present. Critics argue this broadcast approach uses more herbicide than spot treatment of individual weeds and increases exposure for children and pets who play on the lawn. Some Canadian provinces and municipalities restricted cosmetic lawn pesticide use, including weed-and-feed products, in the 2000s, citing precaution for children’s health. Homeowners who want to reduce chemical use can separate fertilizing from weed control and treat weeds individually or by hand.

Fertilizer Runoff and Water Quality

Lawn fertilizers contribute nitrogen and phosphorus to stormwater runoff, which can feed algae blooms in lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Algae blooms reduce oxygen for fish and can produce toxins harmful to people and pets. Many states and municipalities have restricted phosphorus in lawn fertilizers, and Scotts removed phosphorus from most of its lawn fertilizers in the 2010s. Applying fertilizer at the right time, avoiding application before heavy rain, keeping fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways, and leaving grass clippings on the lawn reduce runoff.

Reading Lawn Product Labels

Lawn product labels list active ingredients, signal words indicating acute toxicity (Caution, Warning, or Danger), and reentry instructions such as keeping people and pets off treated areas until sprays have dried. Following these instructions is a legal requirement and reduces exposure. Labels do not describe chronic risks such as cancer or developmental effects, which remain debated for some ingredients. Comparing active ingredients and choosing products with lower toxicity, or non-chemical approaches, is the most reliable way to reduce risk.

Integrated Pest Management for Lawns

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach that prevents pest problems through healthy growing conditions and uses chemicals only when needed and in the least hazardous form. For lawns, IPM means choosing grass types suited to the climate and sun conditions, mowing high (three inches or more for many grasses) to shade out weeds, watering deeply but infrequently, aerating compacted soil, overseeding thin areas, and testing soil before fertilizing. When weeds or insects exceed tolerable levels, spot treatments target only problem areas. Many schools and municipalities use IPM to reduce pesticide use around children, and the same principles work at home.

Alternatives to Synthetic Herbicides

Homeowners who want to avoid synthetic herbicides have several options. Hand-pulling or using weeding tools works for small areas, especially when soil is moist. Corn gluten meal, a byproduct of corn processing, can suppress some weed seeds from germinating when applied in early spring, though results vary. Vinegar-based and fatty acid herbicides kill top growth of weeds but often require repeated applications and can harm surrounding grass. Mulch controls weeds in garden beds. Replacing part of a lawn with native plants, ground covers, or clover reduces the need for herbicides and supports pollinators. Accepting some weeds, such as clover, which adds nitrogen to soil, can also reduce chemical use.

Lawn Pesticides and Pollinators

Some lawn insecticides, including neonicotinoids, can harm bees and other pollinators, especially when flowering weeds like clover and dandelions in treated lawns attract foraging bees. Several states have restricted consumer use of neonicotinoids. Choosing products without neonicotinoids, avoiding spraying flowering plants, and mowing flowers before applying insecticides reduce risks to pollinators. Our article on neonicotinoids and bees explains the research in detail.

Professional Lawn Services

Many homeowners hire lawn care companies, which apply products on schedules. Customers can ask which products are used, request notification before applications, ask for organic or IPM-based programs, and decline routine broadcast herbicide treatments. Some states and municipalities require lawn care companies to post signs after applications and to notify registered neighbors. Communicating with neighbors about lawn treatments can also help families with young children or pets avoid exposure from adjacent properties.

Common Myths

“Roundup sold for home lawns still contains glyphosate.” Since 2023, U.S. residential Roundup products use other active ingredients; glyphosate remains in agricultural and professional products.

“If a product is sold in stores, it is safe for kids and pets.” Registration means a product meets regulatory standards when used as directed, but label precautions exist for a reason, and some chronic risks remain debated.

“Lawn chemicals stay outside.” Studies show residues are tracked into homes and accumulate in dust.

“A weed-free lawn requires chemicals.” Healthy lawn practices and spot treatment can keep weeds manageable with far less herbicide.

Key Terms

FIFRA: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the main U.S. pesticide law.

2,4-D: A widely used phenoxy herbicide for broadleaf weeds.

Weed-and-feed: Combination products that apply fertilizer and herbicide together.

Integrated pest management: A prevention-first strategy using least-toxic controls when needed.

Track-in: The movement of outdoor residues into homes on shoes and paws.

The Bottom Line

Scotts’ 2012 criminal case over insecticide-treated bird food showed how lapses in pesticide compliance can harm wildlife and mislead consumers. Its role marketing Roundup tied it to the glyphosate controversy, though residential Roundup no longer contains glyphosate in the United States. Research links lawn herbicide exposure to cancers in dogs and residential pesticide exposure to childhood leukemia, and shows that lawn chemicals are tracked into homes. Families can reduce exposure through integrated pest management, spot treatments, keeping children and pets off treated lawns, and removing shoes indoors, while still maintaining an attractive yard.

Questions Readers Often Ask

How long should pets and children stay off a treated lawn? Follow label instructions, at minimum until sprays dry, and many experts suggest longer, such as 24 to 48 hours, especially for granular products that need watering in. Are organic lawn products completely safe? Organic or natural products can still cause irritation or harm if misused, so labels should be followed. Does wiping a dog’s paws help? Yes, it reduces residues tracked indoors and licked from paws. Should I worry about neighbors’ lawn treatments? Drift and runoff can carry chemicals across property lines, so communicating with neighbors helps.

Further Reading

Court records and Department of Justice bulletins describe the Scotts bird food case. Peer-reviewed studies cited here address lawn herbicide exposure in dogs, residential pesticide exposure and childhood cancers, and indoor tracking of lawn chemicals. The AAP’s policy statement on pesticide exposure in children offers guidance for families. University extension services provide region-specific advice on low-input lawn care.

Practical Takeaways

Use integrated pest management and spot treatments instead of broadcast weed-and-feed products. Keep children and pets off treated lawns for at least the label period, wipe pets’ paws, and remove shoes indoors. Store lawn chemicals securely and never apply them on windy days. Choose products without neonicotinoids to protect pollinators. Consider replacing parts of the lawn with native plants or clover. Talk to lawn care companies and neighbors about applications. For families with young children, pregnant members, or pets, minimizing residential pesticide use is a reasonable precaution supported by research.

Lawn Care Regulations in Some Communities

Some U.S. municipalities and states have adopted policies restricting pesticide use on public lands, school grounds, and playing fields, and a few have restricted cosmetic pesticide use on private lawns where state law allows. Several Canadian provinces have broader restrictions on cosmetic lawn pesticides. These policies typically allow exemptions for invasive species and public health pests. Communities considering such policies weigh concerns about children’s exposure and water quality against costs and the effectiveness of alternatives.

A Balanced View

Lawn care products are legal and widely used, and many homeowners apply them without obvious harm. Regulators consider registered products acceptable when used as directed. Yet the Scotts bird food case shows that compliance failures happen, and research on pets and children suggests that residential pesticide exposure carries risks worth reducing. Because a lawn is a cosmetic choice rather than a necessity, many families decide that minimizing chemical use is a reasonable precaution, particularly where children and pets play.

Pet Owners’ Checklist

Keep dogs and cats off treated lawns for the label period and longer when possible, especially for granular products. Wipe paws and wash bedding regularly. Avoid letting pets eat grass from treated or unknown lawns, such as parks or neighbors’ yards. Store lawn and garden products where pets cannot reach them. Watch for signs of poisoning, such as vomiting, drooling, tremors, or lethargy, after exposure, and contact a veterinarian or animal poison control center promptly. Owners of breeds prone to bladder cancer, such as Scottish Terriers, may want to be especially cautious about herbicide exposure.

Key Lessons in Brief

Scotts paid criminal and civil penalties for selling insecticide-treated bird food. Residential Roundup in the United States no longer uses glyphosate. Lawn herbicides have been associated with cancers in dogs, and residential pesticide exposure with childhood leukemia. Lawn chemicals are tracked indoors. Integrated pest management and simple precautions greatly reduce exposure.

Looking Ahead

Lawn care is changing. More homeowners are adopting low-input and pollinator-friendly lawns, municipalities are restricting pesticides on public lands, and manufacturers are reformulating products in response to litigation and consumer demand. Research on residential pesticide exposure, pets as sentinels, and indoor contamination continues to inform guidance. Families who reduce lawn chemical use now are aligned with a broader shift toward healthier, more sustainable yards.

Watching for local ordinances and new research will help homeowners keep their practices current.

Lawn Size and Chemical Use

American lawns cover tens of millions of acres, making turfgrass one of the most widely grown irrigated plants in the country. Homeowners often apply fertilizers and pesticides at rates comparable to or higher than some farms on a per-acre basis. Reducing lawn area, especially in areas children and pets do not use, reduces chemical, water, and mowing needs. Native plant gardens, meadows, and edible gardens offer alternatives that support wildlife and reduce maintenance while creating attractive spaces.

Choosing Safer Products

If chemical treatment is needed, choose products targeted to the specific problem, use the lowest effective amount, and apply only to affected areas. Products with the signal word “Caution” are less acutely toxic than those labeled “Warning” or “Danger.” Granular products should be watered in as directed to reduce residue on grass blades. Avoid combination products that apply pesticides you do not need. Read labels fully before buying and follow disposal instructions for leftover products to protect water quality.

Talking With Children About Lawn Safety

Teaching children simple rules helps reduce exposure: stay off lawns with warning flags, wash hands after playing outside and before eating, leave shoes at the door, and never touch garden chemical containers. Involving children in planting native flowers or vegetable gardens builds positive connections to nature and to healthier ways of caring for outdoor spaces.

Further Context on Glyphosate

Although residential Roundup no longer contains glyphosate, the herbicide remains widely used in agriculture, on roadsides, and by professional landscapers, and residues occur in many foods. Litigation over glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma continued for years, culminating in a 2026 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on federal preemption of state failure-to-warn claims. Our articles on glyphosate science and litigation explain these developments in detail.

For homeowners, the practical takeaway is that switching away from glyphosate-based residential products does not eliminate exposure to other herbicides, so reading active ingredients and minimizing overall use remain the most effective strategies for reducing household chemical exposure for families and pets.

Keeping a simple record of what products are applied and when also helps families and veterinarians if questions about exposure arise later, especially in households with young children, older pets, or pets with existing health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scotts the same company as Monsanto?

No, they are separate companies, but they are connected. Scotts Miracle-Gro holds the exclusive license to market and distribute consumer Roundup weedkiller in the United States, while Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) actually manufactured the product. So Scotts is the consumer marketer of Roundup, not its maker or owner, which is why the two names are often linked in the public mind.

Does Scotts make Roundup?

Scotts does not manufacture Roundup; it markets and distributes the consumer version under an exclusive agreement. The product was developed and made by Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018. Scotts handles the retail, marketing, and distribution of Roundup to home gardeners in the U.S., which places it at the consumer-facing end of a product surrounded by health controversy and litigation.

Are lawn chemicals dangerous to pets?

Some can be. Certain herbicides, including 2,4-D found in many lawn products, have been linked in studies to higher rates of canine lymphoma and other problems, and pets can ingest chemicals by licking their paws or grazing on grass. To reduce risk, keep pets off treated lawns until the product has fully dried, and follow all label directions carefully.

Are lawn chemicals harmful to children?

Children are more sensitive to pesticides than adults because of their developing bodies and behavior, like playing on the ground and putting hands in their mouths. Some studies associate home and lawn pesticide use with increased risk of certain childhood cancers, such as leukemia. While evidence varies, this supports limiting children’s contact with treated lawns and minimizing unnecessary chemical use.

How can I make my lawn safer?

You can reduce risk by limiting or avoiding synthetic pesticides, following label directions precisely, and keeping children and pets off treated areas until dry. Removing shoes indoors cuts tracked-in residues. Many people maintain healthy lawns with less chemical input using proper mowing, watering, overseeding, and tolerating some weeds, or by choosing organic lawn-care products and methods instead.

References

1. Glickman LT, Raghavan M, Knapp DW, et al. Herbicide exposure and the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2004;224(8):1290–1297. PMID 15112777
2. Knapp DW, Peer WA, Conteh A, et al. Detection of herbicides in the urine of pet dogs following home lawn chemical application. Science of the Total Environment. 2013;456–457:34–41. PMID 23584031
3. Chen M, Chang CH, Tao L, Lu C. Residential Exposure to Pesticide During Childhood and Childhood Cancers: A Meta-Analysis. Pediatrics. 2015;136(4):719–729. PMID 26371195
4. Roberts JR, Karr CJ; Council on Environmental Health. Pesticide exposure in children. Pediatrics. 2012;130(6):e1765–e1788. PMID 23184105
5. Agri-Pulse. Scotts Miracle-Gro will pay largest criminal penalty under FIFRA. September 10, 2012. agri-pulse.com
6. U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division. Environmental Crimes Section Monthly Bulletin, March 2012. justice.gov
7. Hayes HM, Tarone RE, Cantor KP, et al. Case-control study of canine malignant lymphoma: positive association with dog owner’s use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 1991;83(17):1226–1231. PMID 1870148
8. Nishioka MG, Lewis RG, Brinkman MC, et al. Distribution of 2,4-D in air and on surfaces inside residences after lawn applications: comparing exposure estimates from various media for young children. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2001;109(11):1185–1191. PMID 11713005
9. Turner MC, Wigle DT, Krewski D. Residential pesticides and childhood leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2010;118(1):33–41. PMID 20056585

Last updated: October 6, 2026