Gardening

Baitball Blogger

(49,901 posts) Wed Jul 1, 2020, 08:56 AM Jul 2020

Neem oil -- banned in the UK. Are their studies valid?

I have been using Neem oil in the garden and now I'm reading that it's banned in the U.K. because it's a threat to pregnancy. Does anyone have information on this subject?

Why is Neem oil banned in UK?
Neem oil exposure may cause abortion or lead to infertility, and it may cause liver damage in children. Pesticides containing neem oil (Azadirachtin) are banned in the UK.Sep 9, 2016

10 replies

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Neem oil -- banned in the UK. Are their studies valid? (Original Post) Baitball Blogger Jul 2020 OP

organic/natural does NOT equal safe Kali Jul 2020 #1

Toxicity Ptah Jul 2020 #2

I just want to poison/smother the scale bugs that are sucking the juice out of my magnolias Backseat Driver Jul 2020 #3

Have you tried insecticidal soap? Ponietz Jul 2020 #6

Thanks for the recipe. What pests does this work for mahina Sep 2020 #10

Horticultural oil works on scale insects in the crawler stage. yellowcanine Jul 2020 #7

Horticultural oils aren't always neem Major Nikon Jul 2020 #8

I don't think it is banned commercially Phoenix61 Jul 2020 #4

Maybe this site will help a bit... WePurrsevere Jul 2020 #5

Oh thanx - missed that one! I'll definitely read up! Backseat Driver Jul 2020 #9

Kali

(56,207 posts)

1. organic/natural does NOT equal safe

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2020, 09:06 AM

Jul 2020

science, it's not just for nerds

Ptah

(33,723 posts)

2. Toxicity

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2020, 10:01 AM

Jul 2020

Toxicity

The ingestion of neem oil is potentially toxic and can cause metabolic acidosis, seizures, kidney failure, encephalopathy and severe brain ischemia in infants and young children . Neem oil should not be consumed alone without any other solutions, particularly by pregnant women, women trying to conceive, or children. It can also be associated with allergic contact dermatitis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil#Toxicity

Backseat Driver

(4,671 posts)

3. I just want to poison/smother the scale bugs that are sucking the juice out of my magnolias

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2020, 10:20 AM

Jul 2020

I'm not likely to consume the oil or eat magnolia leaves and stems and long past a pregnancy, so maybe? So is it an effective and safe bug asphixicant? It's coming up on those suckers "crawler" stage - now just to order up a gallon or so and get the timing correct. Any idea what would work better?