URGENT WARNING

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Sainsbury's Homebase, Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called "Theobromine". It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die.

Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution -- check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

Theobromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate -- especially dark or baker's chocolate -- which is toxic to dogs. Cacao bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

We've received the message below from Animal Aid, it contains more info on this issue and a call for you to complain to to Homebase.

This is from the Homebase website:-

"Risky Chemicals
Homebase set the pace in the industry in 2000 with its plan for the removal of risky chemicals from its products. Greenpeace described Homebase as the first major company to take such a systematic approach to eliminating the use of priority pollutants from their products.

Homebase is an early signatory to the Friends of the Earth Risky Chemicals Retailer pledge (the most comprehensive commitment for UK retailers) in August 2002.
We consulted with Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in our approach to risky chemicals in our products."

Homebase are obviously concerned about risky chemicals in their products. The cocoa mulch product they sell ('Sunshine of Africa' cocoa shell garden mulch) is not their own product, but they should still not be selling something which is so dangerous to animals.

Homebase contact details are:-

Homebase Ltd, Customer Relations Department, Beddington House, Railway Approach, Wallington, SM6 0HB
Tel: 020 8784 7200
Fax: 020 8784 7755
E-mail: enquiries@homebase.co.uk

'Sunshine of Africa' cocoa shell garden mulch is produced by
Sunshine Garden Products Ltd. It would be well worth asking them to withdraw this product from the market because of the danger to dogs and cats. Their contact details are:-

Sunshine Garden Products Ltd, 8 Hartley Business Park, Selborne Road, Alton, Hants, GU34 3HD
Tel: 01420 511500
Fax: 01420 511511
E-mail: export@sunshine-garden-products.com
Website: www.sunshine-garden-products.com