WARNING: Cocoa Mulch

[Michele_bell]

I just came back from Monmouth Feed Supply and was told some disturbing news.  Hershey's is marketing a mulch called Cocoa Mulch.  It is being sold at the big box stores and target.  The mulch is extremely toxic to pets. It is advertised as environmentally friendly and a natural way to deter cats from your flower beds. 

Apparently, people thought the mulch was made from coconut husks, not the cocoa plant. After seeing the bag myself, it made sense, since it doesn't specifically say it is the cocoa plant roots on the front of the bag. Anyone who has pets knows that chocolate is toxic, the roots are apparently worse. To make matters worse, the mulch has a tendency to harbor white mold very easily.  Two dogs have died after ingesting it, but since there is a warning, in very, very tiny print on the back of the bag; they don't have to do anything about it.

Just thought I would pass this along.

[Cheech_Panzera]

I heard about this many years, ago. I don't use Cocoa Mulch. It's too expensive, and I wouldn't take a chance that it would be harmful to any animals. Here's what Snopes has to say about it:

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

Here's a 'thread' about it, on the Master Gardeners Forum at the "Garden Web" - RE: Deadly Mulch - from 2005:

 http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/mastgard/msg1113063029413.html

[Michele_bell]

Thanks Cheech for the info...the Feed Grange is making a point to tell people and has the info posted at the check out because the death of the 2 labs happened to a local customer. I have to say I trust any of the stuff, especially with dyes.  We bought a large leaf shredder a couple of years ago and just shred them each fall for mulch around our landscaping.  Granted it isn't that "nice black" or "red" look, but it is safe, environmentally sound and at this point, pretty much free!