Garden Mulch Containing COCOA - Fair Warning

Back in 2003 an email started circulating about a particular garden mulch that was potentially bad for pets because it contained theobromine (found in chocolates). Depending on the weight of the pet, the type of chocolate, and the amount ingested, theobromine can cause seizures, arrhythmia, increased urination, and tremors. Death could occur in 12-24 hours. An internet search shows one death of a dog from eating 'cocoa mulch' and upon further investigation, there are another 3 confirmed dog deaths in the UK from cocoa shell ingestion.

Sunshine Garden Products produces a cocoa mulch made from cocoa shells. This is a commonly found product in popular stores such as Target, Home Depot, etc. We decided to contact Sunshine Garden Products directly and get their response. We just received a reply from managing director, Justin Brooking. Here is what he put together for us:

[begin quote]"

Information relating to ‘Dogs & Cocoa Shell’

Cocoa shell contains the naturally occurring substance Theobromine. It is an inherent part of most chocolate products. Being a natural plant material, concentrations of Theobromine vary. The highest concentration is found in the 'nib', which is the inner part of the cocoa bean and therefore the darker chocolates tend to contain the highest levels of Theobromine as they use the highest concentration of cocoa bean extracts. Cocoa shells, which are the outer part of the cocoa bean, contain varying amounts of Theobromine, this depends on the growing season, the variety of bean and the country of origin. Sunshine of Africa cocoa shell is sourced from a U.K. based chocolate manufacturer who in turn source their cocoa beans from growers and co-operatives all over the world.

It is fair to say that cocoa shell when freshly spread on the garden does often smell of chocolate (for many customers this is part of the appeal of the product). This can be attractive to dogs and many dogs will have eaten cocoa shell. However the vast majority of dogs do not find cocoa shell at all palatable, it is very dry and has an abrasive texture, it also contains natural mucilage that makes it very slimy and hard to swallow. Because of these factors, dogs tend not to eat very much, if any at all. Our experience shows that very few dogs will actually eat cocoa shell and of those that do, the vast majority have no adverse reaction whatsoever. However some may get an upset stomach and it can cause hyperactivity for a short period. In very, very rare occasions dogs have died from eating cocoa shell. The smell of chocolate disappears very quickly after the shell has been spread and watered as per the instructions on the bag. Cocoa shell begins its natural composting processes as soon as it becomes wet. This changes the smell to one of an earthy compost smell which is not at all attractive to dogs.

Sunshine Garden Products have supplied the retail garden market for 17 years with cocoa shell. Over this time there have been three reported incidents of dogs that have allegedly died from eating cocoa shell in the U.K. The most recent was in September 2002 when it was confirmed that a pedigree Weimaraner sadly died from eating cocoa shell. We take this very seriously indeed and have taken advice from the Trading Standards office over this issue. We first printed a warning on our bags in 1999 and have recently strengthened it to read as follows: N.B. Please note that cocoa shell contains the naturally occurring substance Theobromine. If eaten by dogs, this can be very harmful. Please keep your dog away from the treated area until the mulch has settled i.e. a couple of weeks. If concerned contact your local vet.

This warning was printed because we felt our customers should be aware of the potential danger, albeit very small. Our decision to print this warning was endorsed by Trading Standards, however we were, and still are, under no obligation to do so. The warning can found on the back of the bag in clear purple print on a white background. It is interesting to note that no chocolate manufacturers place any kind of warning on their products to keep them away from dogs.

Most vets will be familiar with the effects of Theobromine on dogs. There are numerous cases of dogs suffering from stealing chocolate bars and cakes etc each year. Most other animals are largely unaffected by Theobromine and in fact many cocoa bean processors in the U.K. supply the animal feeds market with ground cocoa shell for inclusion as a ruminant filler in livestock feeds.

It is worth noting that Sunshine Garden Products have sold several million bags of cocoa shell over the past 17 years. The product has not changed in any way during this time. If the product posed a serious threat to dogs it would have been withdrawn from the market. Trading standards have been aware of our products and its potential danger to dogs for many years. They would not hesitate to insist we withdraw cocoa shell form the market if they felt it posed a real threat to dogs.

Cocoa Shell & Cats. We at Sunshine Garden Products have never heard that cats are at all interested in eating cocoa shell and indeed a great many of our customers have reported that cats are often deterred from walking on gardens mulched with cocoa shell. This has proved to be very popular over the years by customers wishing to prevent cats from fouling their borders. We have had so many comments and letters from satisfied customers that we print "Helps to keep cats off your garden" on the bag and other promotional literature. We have never heard of any cat being ill or dying from eating cocoa shell.

Updated - 1^st January 2008"[end quote]

So that's the info folks - cocoa mulch is apparently a fantastic garden product, but please be very careful using it around animals, particularly curious dogs . If you suspect that your pet has eaten cocoa bean mulch (or any chocolate for that matter), immediately contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). Recommended care may include placing your dog under veterinary observation, inducing vomiting, and/or controlling a rapid heart beat or seizures.