So there has been a big shift for a lot of pet owners as to what they feed their pets and why. We know for a lot of humans grains can create inflammation and digestive distress. People may have Celiac or just gluten sensitivity. Dogs and especially cats are not really designed to eat grains. This study gives yet another reason to really look at what you are feeding your pets.
There is an increasing potential deadly aflatoxins in pet food made with corn-based ingredients. The increased risk is due to extreme drought conditions in the U.S. Midwest.
Aflatoxins are naturally-occurring mycotoxins produced by the Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus paraciticusspecies of fungi that grow on certain crops. Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic. They poison the liver and promote tumor development.
Foods Most Likely to Be Contaminated with Aflatoxins
Aflatoxins frequently contaminate agricultural crops before they are harvested. Conditions that promote pre-harvest contamination include high temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, and insect activity.
Aflatoxins can also be a problem after harvesting if the crop stays wet for too long. And they can grow on stored crops if the moisture level is too high and mold develops.
The three plants with the highest rate of aflatoxin contamination are corn, peanuts and cottonseed. Other frequently contaminated agricultural products include:
- Maize, sorghum, pearl millet, rice, and wheat cereals
- Peanut, soybean, and sunflower oilseeds
- Chili peppers, black pepper, coriander, turmeric, and ginger spices
- Almonds, pistachios, walnuts, coconuts, brazil nuts
Processed foods containing corn can also carry a risk of aflatoxin adulteration. Infected corn and cottonseed meal fed to dairy cows has resulted in aflatoxin contamination of milk and other dairy products including cheese and yogurt.
For more information on Aflatoxins in pet food click here to read Dr. Beckers full article.. Safe eating 🙂