Independent Laboratory Verifies the Safety of Amerimulch Colorants

By: Michael Chase, Corporate Counsel

In February of 2008, the Mulch and Soil Council’s (MSC) Colorants Sub-Committee made three recommendations pertaining to mulch colorants. While Amerimulch colorants have long met the requirements expected according to both known environmental laws and industry performance standards, we have recently made great strides in meeting the MSC’s recommendations. Amerimulch colorants recently underwent the so-called “six-pack” test for toxicology. We are confident now that our colorants not only ARE safe, but we have the evidence from an independent lab to prove that our colorants are safe for people, pets and the environment.

The six-pack toxicology test is commonly used to check the toxicity of things like pesticides and insecticides, and is used to ensure that products are labeled properly to guide end-user’s use of potentially toxic products. Six tests are performed, checking the material on (1) acute oral toxicity, (2) acute dermal toxicity, (3) acute inhalation toxicity, (4) eye irritation, (5) dermal irritation, and (6) skin sensitization. Depending on the toxicity discovered in each test, different labeling must be on the packages containing the product.