🧪 Active Ingredient Profile

Iron Phosphate (Slug & Snail Bait)

Molluscicide (Organic Approved)

Iron phosphate is the pet-safe, organic alternative to metaldehyde for slug and snail control. When slugs eat the bait, iron phosphate disrupts their calcium metabolism, causing them to stop feeding immediately. They die within 3-6 days. Safe around dogs, cats, children, and wildlife.

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Classification

Molluscicide (Organic Approved)

EPA Signal Word

Caution

Mode of Action

Disrupts calcium metabolism in mollusks — causes feeding cessation and death

🎯 Target Pests

Slugs and snails (all common garden species). Does NOT affect earthworms, insects, or other non-target organisms. Specific to gastropod mollusks.

🏷️ Common Products & Brand Names

Sluggo (most popular), Garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait, Monterey Sluggo, Natria Snail & Slug Killer, Corry's Slug & Snail Killer (iron phosphate version), Sluggo Plus (adds spinosad for additional insect control).

📋 Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

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Iron Phosphate (Slug & Snail Bait) — Safety Data Sheet

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📄 Iron Phosphate (Slug & Snail Bait) — Safety Data Sheet · View the complete SDS document above or download below

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

Excellent safety profile — one of the safest pesticides available. Safe around pets, children, and wildlife. Any unused bait simply breaks down into iron and phosphate, which are soil nutrients. OMRI listed for organic gardening.

✅ Pet owners: Unlike metaldehyde baits (which can kill dogs), iron phosphate baits are safe if your dog eats them. Dogs may get mild GI upset from eating large quantities of the bait carrier, but the iron phosphate itself is non-toxic to mammals.

💡 Pro Tips & Best Practices

Application: Scatter pellets evenly around plants at dusk (when slugs become active). Use 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Reapply after heavy rain. Most effective when applied in a ring around target plants.

Pro tip: Apply in late afternoon/early evening for best results. Slugs feed at night and will encounter fresh bait. Water the area lightly before application — slugs are more active in moist conditions.

Combination approach: Pair iron phosphate bait with copper tape barriers around raised beds for maximum slug protection.

💡 Did you know? Iron phosphate was first registered as a pesticide in 1997 and quickly became the organic gardener's go-to slug control. Sluggo alone has prevented millions of dogs from being poisoned by the older, toxic metaldehyde baits.

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Reviewed by Derek GiordanoContent reviewed by a licensed pest management professional. Last reviewed: April 2026.