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Many people who have parrots are aware that some peanuts have been contaminated with moulds that produce aflatoxins. Unfortunately, however, many people seem unaware that there are other foods other than peanuts that can be contaminated with these extraordinarily nasty compounds. Note that these are not synthetic compounds, mother nature can be a very nasty girl with some of the compounds she makes! In fact, her nasty compounds are often far worse than any synthetics humans have been able to produce.

Brazil nuts, maize, and many many other grains and nuts can be contaminated just as badly as peanuts. Corn meal can become contaminated, especially when stored in damp conditions. Pellets can become contaminated too!

I have seen many articles state that people should not feed peanuts at all. But avoiding peanuts does NOT solve the problem, when many other foods are just as apt to be contaminated. Aflatoxins are fluorescent with UV. The absorbance maximum that leads to fluorescence is about 360 nm, so common UV "black light" fixtures will cause fluorescence. There are other fluorescent compounds in foods, however, and one can get false positives with such tests.

Feeding so called "organic" materials does absolutely no good, and feeding these only creates a very false feeling of security.

Aflatoxins probably kill more humans than any other food contaminant--not just birds!!! How many of the people who die from malignant tumours actually acquired the tumours from aflatoxin???

After writing the above, I thought of something. For many years the "black light" uv fluorescent bulbs have been available. I checked on Internet, and found that they are also available in the spiral glass type fluorescent bulbs that fit in ordinary light bulb fixtures. I saw them for sale for packages of 6 for $50. That would seem to be several life times supply!

There must be places that one can purchase these locally and get just one instead of six!

Maybe we should routinely test new supplies of foods this way. (Even though it can give false positive results.) All we would need to do is shine the light from such a fixture on new food supplies. Unfortunately the mould can be inside of the shells of nuts.

You can find just one black light light-bulb at Walmart. I buy the human grade peanuts, but still worry about it. I do try to do the best I can by my birdies, and Robert, you have helped in so many ways. Thank you!

Peanuts and many other foods are fluorescent under UV by themselves. The aflatoxins fluorescence however is blue or cyan, and appears as spots on the peanuts or other grains when illuminated with "black" light bulbs. Clean peanuts will appear yellowish white under these bulbs, though you may see a bit of reflected blue from that gets past the UV filter. Irregular masses of cyan or blue are a good sign of contamination. (Not just in peanuts.)

rpavlis wrote:Peanuts and many other foods are fluorescent under UV by themselves. The aflatoxins fluorescence however is blue or cyan, and appears as spots on the peanuts or other grains when illuminated with "black" light bulbs. Clean peanuts will appear yellowish white under these bulbs, though you may see a bit of reflected blue from that gets past the UV filter. Irregular masses of cyan or blue are a good sign of contamination. (Not just in peanuts.)

GOOD to know! Thanks again, Robert!

$19.99 and includes the portable fixture. Just in case anyone is interested.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 001+113217