Does compost HAVE to state if it has horse manure in it?

[ItsEssexRob]

Reason I ask is I have bene planting with my little boy lately and it says ' take care when handling' and my mate claims all composts have horse muck on it.

They are b and q verve growbags, and some other compost brand and cant remember the name of, neither of which state 'horse manure' they just say sustainable materials.

My mate who anyone who remembers my other posts from Greenhousegate and Weedkillergate might know can get things wrong claims that the smell is strong and its horse 'muck' but most garden stores state when a compost has horse manure in it dont they?

[solway cropper]

I should have thought that horse muck was far too expensive and unpredictable to put in any commercial compost.

They have to say take care when handling but they say that about everything. If they say wear gloves or wash hands after using it's just a precaution on their part. It doesn't mean it's going to kill you.

I've used the B+Q growbag material and it doesn't look like anything that came out of the back of any kind of horse I've ever seen.

[Thelma Sanders]

the 'take care when handling' started because there has been some legionella type disease among gardeners using compost Gardeners warned of Legionella in compost

and no they don't have horse muck in unless it says it has manure in it.

[Glutton4...]

... my mate claims ... My mate who anyone who remembers my other posts from Greenhousegate and Weedkillergate might know can get things wrong ...

May I respectfully suggest that said 'Mate' needs to get a hobby...

[veggiechicken]

May I respectfully suggest that said 'Mate' needs to get a hobby...

Mate has a hobby - spreading alarm and confusion!
My advice to you Rob, is, whatever your Mate says, ignore it. Its not worth a cupful of 'oss muck

[rustylady]

May I respectfully suggest that said 'Mate' needs to get a hobby...

Other than giving you duff advice and opinions about gardening.

[gojiberry]

Don't know for sure but would be very surprised if any composts had any animal product in them except possibly BF&B for a fertiliser. Waste from any animal is to expensive to process to put into composts.

ian

[Two_Sheds]

whatever your Mate says, ignore it.

... but continue posting it on here, it's hilarious

[Ian_5]

thought the warning was because of the weight of the stuff when lifting... the risk of legionella hasn't been marked on uk products up until very recently (if it even is now) and those warnings have been on there for years..

either way i suspect it's no worse for you than the ground your putting it in.

[Two_Sheds]

thought the warning was because of the weight of the stuff when lifting...

Well weight is a concern but you can see how heavy the thing is for yourself.

The advice is to wear gloves when handling (because of bacteria), and to avoid inhaling because of mould spores

[veggiechicken]

Actually, I never know how heavy a bag of compost will be. It may say 58 litres but how heavy is that when you lift it - and will it be waterlogged as so much of the stuff seems to be these days?

[zazen999]

Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

However I'd recommend washing hands after handling any compost - whether it has manure in it or not. It's a good practice to get children into the habit of.

[Feral007]

All potting mix has the warning here too and it is because of the risk of respiratory problems from the mould and spores, and the risk of it being infected with legionella. They recommend a face mask when you're using it. I don't bother with that but if it's dry then definately dont be flicking it round and breathing in the dust.
Always good to teach the kids to be careful when they are handling things - not to touch their faces, mouth or nose with dirty hands. Bit the same as cooking really - only for the reverse reasons!

[Ian_5]

Well weight is a concern but you can see how heavy the thing is for yourself.

Hi 2S meant it's an arse covering exercise by B+Q so you don't sue them if you put your back out in the store... fair warning and all that!

didn't realise there was anything about bacteria thought that was just in australia and NZ... you live and learn!

[Two_Sheds]

Actually, I never know how heavy a bag of compost will be.

It's ALWAYS heavier than it looks