Red Lake Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth: Is This Really Safe for Animals to Consume?

Diatomaceous earth is composed of fossilized debris of small organisms called diatoms. The edges of these fossilized diatoms are very sharp and tear the exoskeleton of almost any crawling insect that comes into contact with them. When their outer shell is torn, the powdered product dehydrates the insect and kills it, if not instantaneously. Diatomaceous earth is effective in killing most crawling insects, but has been found to be particularly effective in killing ants, spiders, crickets, roaches, fleas, centipedes, millipedes, silverfish, earwigs, voxel bugs, slugs, beds, etc. There are several species that have been found. Insects, flies, Tenebrionidae, centipedes.

As a safe and natural alternative to chemical pesticides, food grade diatomaceous earth is also often used as a natural pesticide. Similarly, many products, including Red Lake Earth, are also suitable for use in animal feed (at a rate of 2% of daily feed intake).

But how can this natural product be safe for animals to consume when it is very deadly to insects?

The particles of diatomaceous earth are very small, and their razor-like sharp edges only function to tear the surface at a microscopic level. Insects are also small, so you can easily cut the exoskeleton. The movement of the insect bodies across the particles, and their waxy exoskeleton, creates a condition in which diatomaceous earth rubs their bodies and tears their outer shells. Many parasites are vulnerable because their soft bodies are easily cut. However, large, strong surfaces, such as intestinal and gastric tissue, are unaffected by sharp edges because the particles are too small to cause damage.

Therefore, food-grade diatomaceous earth has the ability to kill insects due to the sharp edges of its particles, but it is completely safe for animals to consume. In fact, Red Lake Earth is listed on the OMRI for use in organic production (Organic Materials Review Institute) and can be safely used in all animals (except reptiles, as it can dry the skin). I will. Similarly, no residue from the product was found in the animals that consumed the product (or their offspring or milk).

Studies have been conducted to test the absorption of diatomaceous earth into milk produced by cows. Cows were given a product at a rate of 2 percent. The results of this study did not find any absorption or residue of the product in milk. Red Lake Earth can be fed to layers as well as animals produced for meat, with no residue transfer to the resulting product.