Tell Kroger: STOP selling food grown with bee-killing pesticides!

Bees and other pollinators play a vital role in agriculture. Over 75% of our food crops depend on bees and other pollinators, but pesticides are killing pollinators at unprecedented rates – threatening our entire food system.

Kroger could play a vital role in protecting pollinators, leading the way towards cleaner, more sustainable agriculture. Instead, it’s choosing to continue to allow the use of toxic pesticides in its food supply, killing beneficial pollinators and contaminating the food you eat.

Mr.

Rodney

McMullen

Kroger

Dear Mr. McMullen,

I urge Kroger to help protect bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by strengthening its pollinator health policy. Bees and other pollinators are a cornerstone of Kroger’s food supply. One of three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators, but they are in great peril. At current rates, forty percent of insect pollinators face extinction in coming years. Scientists around the world are warning that we are in the midst of an “insect apocalypse,” due in large part to the overuse of toxic pesticides.

Kroger is falling behind competitors in pollinator protection. Kroger fell from 7th to 12th place on the Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard. Other companies are stepping up and taking action while Kroger has not indicated taking any action since establishing its pollinator health policy. Giant Eagle and Walmart announced industry-leading policies last year. Giant Eagle will eliminate the most pollinator-toxic neonicotinoids from its produce supply chain, and both companies will require that all fresh produce suppliers adopt ecological farming methods called integrated pest management (IPM), as verified by a vetted list of third-party certifications, by 2025.

Kroger’s current policy does not adequately address the use of pesticides that are driving pollinator declines. It does not include targets for reducing the use of pollinator-toxic pesticides or for expanding ecological farming methods in the company’s agricultural supply chains. Independent testing found residues of toxic pesticides — glyphosate, organophosphates and neonicotinoids — in Kroger’s store brand foods, and the company has not indicated taking any action to address it.

To protect pollinators, people, and the planet, I urge Kroger to:
	•	Reduce Pesticides: Establish a pollinator health policy that includes targets to reduce or phase out neonicotinoids, glyphosate, organophosphates, and other pollinator-toxic pesticides, as well as implementation of alternative, least-toxic pest management strategies in company supply chains.
	•	Grow Organic: Increase USDA-certified organic food and beverages to 15 percent of overall offerings by 2025, prioritizing sourcing from domestic growers.
	•	Increase Transparency: Publicly disclose company policies and progress related to these actions.

As the largest traditional grocery chain in the U.S., it’s important that Kroger show leadership in making its food supply safer for farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and pollinators.

Sincerely,
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{user_data~City}, {user_data~State} {user_data~Postcode}

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