Net even de site van Harrisons bezocht, de pellets worden verhit en dusdanig verhit dat de meeste natuurlijke vitaminen sterk zijn afgenomen. Na het bakproces worden de pellets aan de buitenkant voorzien van de nodige vitaminen, daarom adviseerd Harrisons dat de pellet niet door de vogel in zijn waterbak gedompeld kan worden ivm het afwassen van de vitaminen. Of die afgewassen vitaminen in het water enig nut hebben bij opname door de vogel is mij niet duidelijk geworden. De Harrisons pellet is dus wel een organische pellet ondanks het verhitten, het predikaat "organisch" word alleen gegeven doordat de ingredienten organisch zijn verbouwd en bemest etc en niet door de bereiding. Aangezien het om een diervoeder gaat dat naar ons land word geimporteerd zijn er geen al te strenge regels..er worden zelfs schrikbarend veel toevoegingen toegestaan die hier in bv hondenvoer zonder meer verboden zijn. Harrisons bevat behalve toegevoegde vitamen van een goede kwaliteit geen slechte ingredienten. Ecobird geld hetzelfde voor, alleen zijn hier de natuurlijke vitaminen niet verloren doordat ze koud geperst worden. Nutribird is een gebakken pellet met een aantal toevoegingen die wat minder "gezond" zouden kunnen zijn..let wel ..ik zeg "kunnen" ! Weer hetzelfde verhaal over tekort aan objectief wetenschappelijk onderzoek!
Hieronder een lijst met de merken pellets en hun toevoegingen, helaas voor sommige in het Engels...
List of Pellet Comparisons and the toxic they contain
The following is a list of popular pellets and the artificial ingredients they may contain.
Abba & Abba 1500A = ethoxyquin, artificial color and flavor
Avi-Sci Parrot Maintenance Pellets = ethoxyquin
Hagen Tropical Pellets = natural color, salt
Hagen Tropical High performance Pellets = natural flavor, salt
Harrison's Pellets = organic
Kaytee Pellets = ethoxyquin, artificial color, natural favlor, salt, bht or bha
Kellog Pellets = ethoxyquin, artificial flavor, salt
Lafeber Pellets = ethoxyquin
Lafeber Nutriberries = ethoxyquin
Lefeber Avi Cake Treats = ethoxyquin
L&M Pellets = ethoxyquin, artificial color and flavor
Pretty Bird Pellets = ethoxyquin, artifical flavor, salt, added sugar, BHT or BHA
Roudybush Pellets = ethoxyquin
ZuPreem Pellets = all-natural, sugar
Breeders Blend Pellets = artificial flavor, salt
Scenic = salt
Goldenfeast (natural state food) = all natural approx. 23 ingredients
Noah's Kingdom (natural state food) = all human grade 47 ingredients
Note:
Nearly all pellets have synthetic vitamins and minerals and are heat processed so the nutrient value is substantially gone by the time our birds eat it.
Ethoxyquin is listed and identified as a hazardous chemical by OSHA. It has a rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 6 with 6 being super toxic requiring less than 7 drops to cause death. When mfg. by Monsanto, the containers are marked with the word POISON. The Dept. of Ag. lists and controls Ethoxyquin as a pesticide. The US FDA has announced that ethoxyquin, as currently regulated is no longer safe for use in dog food. Ethoxyquin promotes kidney
carcinogenesis, significantly increases the incidence of stomach tumors, enhanced bladder carcinogenesis and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Cancers of this type are the most lethal and fastest acting, the swiftest effects being seen among animals.
Artificial colors:
Most people are aware of toxic side effects of artificial colors and flavors from coal tar derivatives such as Red #40, a possible carcinogen and Yellow #6, which causes sensitivity to fatal viruses in animals.
BHA/BHT:
Petroleum products used to stabilize fats in foods. In the process of metabolizing BHA and BHT, chemical changes occur in the body. These changes have caused reduced growth rates and white blood cell stimulation. Pets can exhibit reactions such as skin blisters, hemorrhaging of the eye, weakness, discomfort in breathing, a reduction of the body's own antioxidant enzyme and may cause cancer. According to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM for some 26 years, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries.
Pesticides:
Found just about everywhere, they are altering our genetic makeup and producing animal and bird mutations.
Most obvious is the assault to our pets health, manifesting itself as cancer. The EPA now considers many previously approved chemicals to be potentially carcinogenic - 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides currently being used by farmers. And the pesticides that are banned in this country are shipped to foreign countries who use them on their agriculture and then ship that food back to us for consumption!!!
The fruits and veggies most susceptible to contamination from pesticides are listed in the order of highest risk of contamination: strawberries, bell peppers (green, red, yellow), spinach, cherries, peaches, cantaloupe (from Mexico), celery, apples, apricots, green beans, grapes and cucumbers.
Propylene Glycol:
used as a de-icing fluid for airplanes, this chemical is added to food and skin products to maintain texture and moisture as well as inhibiting bacteria growth. It also inhibits the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system by decreasing the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. It can affect the liver and kidneys and causes the destruction of red blood cells. Read your labels, on your food and beauty products, as well as your birdie treats. This stuff is everywhere!
Salt:
added as a preservative, salt can irritate the stomach lining, cause increased thirst and aggravate heart and kidney problems through fluid retention.
Sodium Nitrite:
used in the curing of meats, this substance participates in a chemical reaction in the body that becomes carcinogenic. It is used also in pet foods to add color.
Sugar and other sweeteners:
most common are beet sugar, corn sugar, molasses and sucrose. Used as preservatives and have the side effect of creating sugar addicts in pets. They require almost no digestion and are rapidly absorbed into the blood streatm. They provide sugar highs and subsequent lows (moodiness), inhibit the proper growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and virtually shut down the digestive system while being processed. Also contribute to diabetes and hypoglycemia, cataract development, obesity and arthritis.
Note on feather plucking:
There are several dietary considerations. One is the presence of salt in the diet. Many parrots consultants believe that artifical colors and preservatives contribute to feather grooming disorders. You may also want to consider that your bird may have an allergic reaction to some artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
Our bird's health is only as good as the strength of their immune system. By enhancing their diets and eliminating the toxic elements in their foodand water and air (smoke from cigarettes, burning food, chemical cleaning agents, candles, chemical coatings on cookware, irons, toasters, etc.), we can greatly strengthen their immune systems.
Birds have a high metabolic rate and parrots require a diet rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and veggies with their abundance of vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Enzymes are found in fresh, uncooked foods (not found in heat processed pellets). Enzymes assist in proper digestion, maintaining health and proper metabolic function.
The dry, convenient pellets have been denatured, then the essential synthetic nutrients are added back. They are devoid of enzymes which are life promoting elements. While they may maintain life, they do not promote optimum health or longevity. They also produce increased absorption of water from the digestive system, water than is not easily replaced by just drinking.
Also something I just ran into recently and have just started writing about is the use of dried fruits in many of our bird mixes. All of the dried fruit is preserved with sulphur dioxide which gives it a very rich pleaseable color. Now because the people that sell bird food usually only mix bags of ingredients together to make a completed mix, by law they can say that there are no additives or preservatives because they did not do the adding but where they buy their dried fruits do add this chemical. Naturally dried fruits have a shelf life of approx. 4-5 weeks, while preserved with sulphur dioxide the fruit will last up to a year and we don't know the long term effects. The "HACSG" (Hyperactive Children's Support Group) strongly recommends not to use this with children and it can cause allergic reactions as well, goodness knows what it could do to our birds. Could be one reason some of our birds are plucking or picking feathers. Now the manufacturers will tell you its harmless but my research tells me to keep this away from our fragile birds.
Grt, Ron
