Ohio Agriculture Department pulls contaminated flea and tick products from Dollar Tree Shelves

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is withdrawing a pesticide product from store shelves across the state following a consumer complaint. The product, labeled “Sergeant’s Nature’s Guardian, Flea and Tick Control, squeeze on for Cats and Kittens,” has been found in Dollar Tree stores throughout Ohio.

The affected product is advertised with active ingredients of lemongrass, clove, and peppermint oils and is registered as a minimum-risk pesticide. However, ODA inspectors collected samples in May, and recent lab results revealed contamination with traditional flea and tick pesticide ingredients, Imidacloprid and Methoprene. These substances require specific usage instructions, which are absent from the mislabeled boxes.

In response, ODA is revoking the product’s registration and has advised the public to be cautious. The department has notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and issued an order to halt any remaining inventory of the product at Dollar Tree stores. Efforts are ongoing to communicate with Dollar Tree Headquarters to ensure the product’s removal from all Ohio locations.