Many people turn to natural dyes because they are safe and nontoxic, so it is an important question to wonder whether the mordants that are used to fix the dyes are themselves safe. All the mordants we sell and use are trace minerals needed by the body. They are the same minerals included in any good mineral supplement.
Alum is the same as is sold in grocery stores for pickling. But I recommend that people never eat pickles with alum in them, that they also purchase alum-free baking powder, and do not use anti perspirants which deliver alum into the body via the skin.
The same applies to the tin, although it's not sold in stores, people who drink canned fruit juices get incredible qualtities from the tinned can. As for iron - this is the same stuff that's in Geritol and other cheap iron supplements. Unless you drank a concentrated solution, it's not going to be of any harm.
The most important thing is to use caution and minimize your exposure. It is important to always use rubber gloves when you are mordanting so nothing is absorbed through the skin of the hands. Additionally, make sure kids or pets do not accidently drink the solution (it doesn't taste good at all so they normally wouldn't).
It should be noted that in the distant past (200 years ago) many other minerals were used as mordants, especially in cotton printing. None of these are used today.
For more details on handling Chrome mordant, which does require extra care, please read “The Problem of Chrome”.
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