Misinformation Regarding Wormer in the UK

[HollyWoozle]

I am feeling very frustrated and not quite sure what to do. Rightly or wrongly, the only licensed wormer for chickens in the UK is Flubenvet (flubendazole) but there is a natural product, designed to improve gut health, which is continually sold as a wormer by feed stores and websites. The product is called Verm-X and I have no issues with it or the use of natural products whenever possible, but somehow Verm-X became known as a natural wormer (I can’t recall if they actually marketed themselves as a wormer originally but they no longer claim that on their website, in all fairness to them).

Only certain stores are allowed to stock Flubenvet as they require a properly trained staff member to prescribe it. I asked in our local feed store if they had the layers pellets with wormer and was immediately directed to the feed with Verm-X in it. My mother then called another local store to see if they stock the feed with Flubenvet (you can buy the powder and mix your own, but we find it easier when the pellets have it it) and was told that no, they didn’t stock that but that they have feed with Verm-X which will do the same.

I since posted in a chicken-keepers’ FB group about it and several people replied saying they had been sold feed with Verm-X as a wormer. In some cases they have only used that product, not realising the difference.

I have tweeted Verm-X about this issue - maybe they could ensure their stockists market it correctly? But I guess the stores want to sell what they have. In many cases I think staff just don’t know the difference. I also messaged the country store I had been to and will tackle the one my Mum called. Do I have any chance of making a difference on this?

 

[sourland]

Good luck. I understand your frustration.

 

[Cazook]

If they are marketing Verm-X as a wormer they are breaking the law.

 

[aart]

Misinformation abounds...all over and in many areas.

 

[HollyWoozle]

That is true, @aart. I just can't quite let it go in this case and I feel that if nobody ever does anything about it then it will continue. I have since been told that Verm-X did originally claim their product to be a 'wormer' (I guess the hint is in the name!) and was forced to stop doing so by the Advertising Standards Authority, but it seems that information hasn't filtered down to their stockists. They are listed on wormersdirect.co.uk for example:

"There are herbal and natural wormers available to enhance the immune system of poultry which helps to repel worms.

Wormers Direct can help you in the transition from a chemical to a herbal and natural worming program.

This is a suitable worming strategy for organic poultry farmers."

If you Google search 'chicken wormer' it is the second product that appears in the results. I just hate to think of how many chicken-keepers are using this believing they are definitely worm-free.

 

[woodworm]

Some people only want natural products. Verm-X is advertised (by resellers not Verm-X themselves from what I can see) as a "100% natural wormer".

If you're struggling to find pellets with Flubenvet then the Marriages web site has a list online suppliers (I didn't realise but my nearest feed store is a stockist)

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks @woodworm. We ordered Flubenbet pellets online, as we have done before, but was just interested to see if we could save the delivery fee (plus I was out buying other feed anyhow). If people wish to use natural products then that is up to them, but I think buyers are being misled in some cases. Stockists should be clear that Verm-X is a natural product and is not licensed as a wormer and is not legally allowed to claim to be one.

 

[aart]

That is true, @aart. I just can't quite let it go in this case and I feel that if nobody ever does anything about it then it will continue.

I know, false marketing has long been a pet peeve of mine....it's everywhere.

Then there's the anecdotal misinformation...don't get me going.

Manufacturers have their labeling loopholes filled quite nicely, but most people don't read the fine print and ignore the wigglewords seeing just what they want to see.

 

[woodworm]

This doesn't actually name the brand of herbal wormer used in the trials but there was a scientific comparison done in 2012 and this isn't access to the complete paper, just the abstract ....

Comparative efficacy of flubendazole and a commercially available herbal wormer against natural infections of Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and intestinal Capillaria spp. in chickens

Quoting the relevant part here ...

Flubendazole (Group A) achieved an overall efficacy of 99.4% for the three parasite species. The herbal product (Group B) achieved efficacies ranging from less than zero to 11.6% for the three parasites

 

[cmom]

That is true, @aart. I just can't quite let it go in this case and I feel that if nobody ever does anything about it then it will continue. I have since been told that Verm-X did originally claim their product to be a 'wormer' (I guess the hint is in the name!) and was forced to stop doing so by the Advertising Standards Authority, but it seems that information hasn't filtered down to their stockists. They are listed on wormersdirect.co.uk for example:

"There are herbal and natural wormers available to enhance the immune system of poultry which helps to repel worms.

Wormers Direct can help you in the transition from a chemical to a herbal and natural worming program.

This is a suitable worming strategy for organic poultry farmers."

If you Google search 'chicken wormer' it is the second product that appears in the results. I just hate to think of how many chicken-keepers are using this believing they are definitely worm-free.

Years ago I used Verm-X and it was labeled as a wormer. Now I use fenbendazole.