Warning lethal garden mulch - cocoa shell based

[TopCat3]

I am posting a warning on as many pet forums as possible. This stuff has been on sale in the UK for some time and is now on sale in Australia:

IF YOU HAVE PETS DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT IT CONTAINS THEOBROMINE WHICH HAS KILLED DOGS. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THEM AND WILL BE WRITING TO AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE TO TRY TO HAVE THEIR IMPORT LICENCE SUSPENDED. THIS IS A UK COMPANY. IF IT IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR COUNTRY AND YOU HAVE PETS DON'T BUY IT. IT IS ON SALE IN TARGET IN AUSTRALIA
http://www.sunshine-garden-products.com/new/index.php

Please check the link and view the purple packet.

Thank you and kind regards to all

I have posted this on dog talk for people who don't ever come to cat talk

[catmandu]

I just hope that it is not marketed in Canada as there are many Porch Cats and a few Stray Dogs who might well get into that mulch and become ill.
Can no one make safe products anymore

[aTailOf2Kitties]

Snopes says this is "partially true". The stuff is poisonous...but most pets wouldn't eat it anyway
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

[snakemama]

atailoft2kitties beat me toit, but here's a C&P of my post from the dog section...

According to Snopes, while the mulch does contain theobromine, there is only one confirmed case of a dog having died after consuming it. So I wouldn't buy it for a dog's yard, but the panic and all the caps seem a little excessive. Have their import license suspended over something one dog died after consuming? Guess we'd better be talking to a lot of companies...

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

[Sonia59]

Well, theobromine is the toxic (for cats and dogs) compound contained in chocolate. I don't think the license can be suspended. They just sell a natural product. Like chocolate is sold everywhere and can also kill cats and dogs. Like a drug or chemical that your dog would eat could kill it.

The problem rather comes from the fact that there is no WARNING on the package and that many people completely ignore that there is a risk with this product.