Over the next 6 months, you will start seeing a brand new feature added across every product on Earthy Crunch UK, test status labels.
This is something I have wanted to introduce for a long time.
One of the biggest challenges in the clay, chalk and geophagy space is that information is often vague, inconsistent, or completely missing. People are left guessing where products come from, whether they have ever been tested, or what kind of checks have actually been carried out.
I want to change that.
Not by making things more complicated or more intimidating, but by making them clearer, more honest, and easier to understand at a glance.
So from now on, products will gradually be labelled with one or sometimes multiple test statuses so you can see exactly what level of testing, checking, or community experience sits behind each item.
Why I am doing this
The geophagy and clay community has always been built heavily on shared experience.
People trust products because:
they have been around for years,
they are sourced from familiar vendors,
other community members have tried them,
or they have personally used them before.
But community experience and actual testing are not the same thing, and I think it is important to separate those clearly.
Adding test status labels helps create a better balance between:
transparency,
community knowledge,
realistic expectations,
and more informed sourcing choices.
It also allows people to choose what matters most to them.
Some people prefer community known products. Others want lab tested items. Some are comfortable with traditional sourcing and sensory history. Others only want cosmetic or food grade materials.
Now that information will be visible upfront.
The new test status labels explained
1. Taste tested (by me)
This means I have personally tested the texture, crunch, or sensory qualities of the product myself.
This is not scientific testing.
It simply means the item has been experienced firsthand for sensory qualities and authenticity.
For many long standing clay products, this is how trust in the community originally developed.
2. Community tested
These are products that are already widely known within the geophagy community and sourced from vendors considered trusted or established within that space.
This means:
the product has community familiarity,
it has been purchased or discussed repeatedly,
and it has an existing reputation among buyers.
This does not automatically mean laboratory testing has been carried out.
It reflects community experience and sourcing trust.
3. Home tested
These products have undergone basic at home checks using available materials such as:
pH strips,
hardness checks,
basic metal test strips.
This level of testing can provide general indicators, but it is not the same as professional laboratory analysis.
Home testing has limitations and results can vary depending on methods used.
4. Lab tested
This is the highest testing category available on the website.
These products have been professionally tested in a laboratory setting for things such as:
metals,
toxins,
microbes,
or other contaminants.
Where available, more detailed results may be shown on the product page.
Lab testing provides a deeper level of analysis, although no material can ever be guaranteed completely risk free.
5. Untested
This simply means none of the above testing or assessments have been completed yet.
Rather than implying everything has been checked in the same way, I would rather be upfront about where things currently stand.
Some products may remain in this category for longer while sourcing and testing information is gathered.
6. Cosmetic grade
These products have been tested and classified for external use only.
This generally applies to clays or powders intended for:
face masks,
skincare,
soap making,
or external cosmetic use.
Cosmetic grade does not mean food grade.
7. Food grade
These products have been sourced, tested, and handled under food grade licensing standards.
This is a separate category from community tested or taste tested products.
Food grade refers specifically to regulated standards for food related use.
Why some products may have multiple statuses
A product can sit in more than one category.
For example, an item might be:
community tested,
taste tested,
and home tested.
Or a cosmetic clay may also be lab tested.
The aim is to build a fuller picture rather than force everything into a single label.
This rollout will take time
I am aiming to update every product over the next 6 months, but there are a lot of items to work through properly.
I would rather do this carefully than rush it.
Some updates will happen quickly, others will take longer depending on sourcing information, testing access, and available documentation.
A note on transparency
I know this topic can sometimes become dramatic online, especially in spaces discussing clay and geophagy products.
My goal is not fearmongering and not pretending every product category is the same.
It is simply about giving clearer information so customers can make informed choices about what they are comfortable with.
Transparency matters.
And honestly, this community deserves more of it.
Disclaimer
Earthy Crunch UK products are natural clay and chalk materials sold for sensory, hobbyist and ASMR use only. They are not food grade certified or promoted for consumption. All personal use is at your own risk, we make no claims regarding health benefits and accept no liability for any adverse effects arising from handling or ingestion. Products are prepared in a home environment.
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