Gardeners' alert

Natural Health, May, 2004

GARDENERS' ALERT: Steer clear of fertilizers containing bone or blood meal. Made from slaughterhouse leftovers, these could theoretically transmit the particles believed to be responsible for mad-cow disease. "The greatest concern is that you could breathe in one of these products," says Michael Gregor, M.D., a Boston-based general practitioner and coordinator of the Organic Consumers Association.

He suggests wearing an N-95 mask, found at hardware stores--or fertilizing with fish meal, cottonseed meal or compost instead.