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12-12-2003 |
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West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass announced today the recall of Candle-lite™ potpourri containing pine cones from India that has been sold in Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores throughout West Virginia due to the presence of beetle larvae that could pose a threat to American pine trees. The insect is not a human health threat. The recall was initiated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) in cooperation with the stores. A similar recall action with Target stores is already underway nationwide because of infested Scented Pine Cones that include the labeling: ID # 050 06 1000, Made in India. “Through no fault of their own, these stores have received foreign products that contain a pest we think could be dangerous to pine trees in this country,” said Commissioner Douglass. “We appreciate the cooperation those stores have given us, and we hope that the public will do their part to help minimize the risk from these products.” Individuals who purchased Candle-lite™ potpourri (containing pine cones) can return unopened packages to Wal-Mart and K-Mart for a refund. If the potpourri has been removed from the plastic wrap and placed in a container, the pine cones should be removed and destroyed by burning them in a fireplace or wood-burning stove, or placing them in a freezer for at least three days, then discarding them. Employees with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and the USDA-APHIS-PPQ confirmed the presence of the larvae at Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores yesterday, and those stores were added to the earlier Target recall. Other stores may be added to the recall as the investigation continues. “We haven’t discovered any adult beetles in West Virginia, but we’re asking for reports of any elongated beetles with long antennae that may have already emerged from the cones,” said Dr. Charles Coffman, Director of WVDA’s Plant Industries Division. “At this point, we’re really not sure of the damage these pests could cause, but we fear they could hurt cones and seed production in native species. We’re hopeful that this recall will halt this infestation in its tracks.” If an unusual beetle fitting this description is discovered, the WVDA’s Plant Industries Division should be contacted at 304/558-2212. The scientific family of the beetle in question, Cerambycidae, contains some members that have already proven to be serious tree pests in this country, such as the Asian longhorned beetle that was introduced from China and that has destroyed thousands of otherwise healthy forest and shade trees in New York and Chicago. |
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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