GMO sources in Oxbow and likely other commercial rodent block

[Diggie's Friend]

The history of the introduction of soy into our diets in mid 20 Century is very shady to say the least; those wanting to make a huge profit misrepresented this legume to the public.

Now: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist....us-for-babies/

https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist....us-for-babies/

Back in 1994, Monsanto, the world’s largest agricultural corporation, genetically modified soy to survive far greater pesticide exposure than organic soy can. Monsanto began selling their pesticide-resistant soy, which they marketed as “Roundup Ready Soy,” to complement Roundup, their pesticide. Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, is carcinogenic and destroys soil integrity [7]. When studies began to find very high levels of glyphosate in Roundup Ready Soy,[COLOR="#4B0082"]Monsanto responded by saying these were “extreme levels” that aren’t the norm. A subsequent study found that 70% of GMO soy has the glyphosate levels Monsanto called “extreme,” and that the nutrients in glyphosate-sprayed GMO soybeans are lower than those of organic soy [7], likely because of a drop in soil quality

Presently. there is a lawsuit against Monsanto for their "Roundup" herbicide spray. yet they haven't removed it from the market. Should you have a jug of this toxin, in case you have used this product, store the plastic container in a container should the plastic crack. Then, God forbid, you develop lymphoma, you can make your case.

Again, just in case you missed it; researchers found glyphosate to promote cancer (lymphoma) in rats and mice. Organophoshates have also been found to cause cancer.

Soy aside, not all organic produced cultivars are produced in poor soils.

[Diggie's Friend]

Article on Soy composed by PhD Dr. of Nutrition for the general public; worth the read!

"How Soy Wreaks Havoc on Digestion and the Pancreas"

https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist....-the-pancreas/

[Diggie's Friend]

Articles relate concerns of toxicity issues in GM corn and GM soy - testing results referenced in articles

GM corn found to contain toxins, is found to cause various serious ill health effects in rats

https://www.gmoscience.org/2019/03/1...ale-fertility/

"They found toxic effects in several organs of the rats fed the GM corn. Abnormalities found in the GM-fed animals (but not in the non-GM-fed or standard diet-fed animals) included:

Vacuolation (formation of storage structures – for example, of fatty compounds) in liver cells, indicating liver damage
Fatty degeneration of liver cells
Congestion of blood vessels in kidneys and cystic malformations of kidney tubules – signs of possible impending kidney failure
Excessive growth and necrosis (death) of intestinal structures called villi
Examination of the testes revealed necrosis and desquamation (shedding) of the spermatogonial cells that are the precursors of sperm cells and thus the foundation of male fertility."

A newer veggie burger product that contains soy root protein, was a hit in NY City; apparently now it is hard to find.

Why is a very interesting story.

https://www.gmoscience.org/2019/06/2...e-safe-to-eat/

Another GMO ingredient

"Impossible Foods recently introduced a new recipe for its Impossible Burger. In addition to GMO-derived SLH, the burger now contains another GMO ingredient: protein from herbicide-tolerant soy. The company introduced soy protein to replace wheat protein in order to improve the texture and to avoid gluten, the protein in wheat that some people cannot tolerate.8 As a result, Impossible Burger Version 2.0 may contain residues of the “probable carcinogen” glyphosate,9 the main ingredient of the herbicide used on GM soy."

“Although proteins are a part of the human food supply, not all proteins are safe. Information addressing the safe use of modified soy protein does not adequately address safe use of soybean leghemoglobin protein from the roots of the soybean plant in food.”

SLH is the substance that gives the burger its meaty taste and makes it appear to bleed like meat when cut.

I sincererely hope that the various manufacturers of rodent block will keep this bleeding soy protein, 'soylent green',

out of rodent block diets.

[Diggie's Friend]

"Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or foods are linked to allergies and antibiotic resistance, per the Center for Food Safety.

Buying organic also protects consumers from potentially harmful side effects of pesticides, and some pesticides have been linked to cancer and hormone issues, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency."

They found toxic effects in several organs of the rats fed the GM corn. Abnormalities found in the GM-fed animals (but not in the non-GM-fed or standard diet-fed animals)

Considering the toxic effects of pesticides and fungicides; unfumigated organic produced shelled nuts are the safest sources for both wilds and NR cared for in captivity.

[Diggie's Friend]

Beyond TD 2016 rodent diet Italy being found to have the 2nd most high levels of Pirimiphos-methyl (organophosphate insecticide) in samples of various rodent feeds from all over the World, which were tested for toxin content and levels; there is also a significant concern with sources of stored grains that has been treated with this same pesticide, in, "states with significant usage....on corn grain include Iowa and Texas.".

"The primary toxicity associated with acute exposure to organophosphate insecticides is cholinergic crisis resulting from acetylcholinesterase inhibition However, these compounds have numerous other compound-specific chronic effects including delayed polyneuropathy, immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis and endocrine, developmental and reproductive toxicity: in humans and rats.

In other words, this pesticide compound has been found to promote long-term negative health effects!

In a study on the effects of using corn as a food supplement to fox squirrels over winter; corn was found to worsen the health of the squirrels. Along with this, since both the production of both soy and corn in the US commonly GMO supported; feeding corn and/or soymeal to wilds at anytime is highly inadvisable!

Reference excerpts quotes:

Abstract
Populations of fox (Sciurus niger) and gray squirrels (S. carolinensis) were provided with shelled corn for 3 winters in a mature mixed hardwood forest and for 2 winters in an even-aged 40- to 50-year-old oak-hickory forest in Illinois. Mast crops were above average during the study. Corn provided no obvious benefits to squirrels in the mature mixed hardwood forest with respect to reproduction, population density, survival, physical parameters, or reduction in disease. In the even-aged forest, the numbers and recaptures of squirrels were higher where corn was provided. Corn apparently is not a nutritionally adequate supplemental food for squirrels. During 1 winter, squirrels made little use of unharvested corn and soybeans left in fields adjacent to woodlands, but use of corn increased somewhat in March.

Introduction

The primary toxicity associated with acute exposure to organophosphate insecticides is cholinergic crisis resulting from acetylcholinesterase inhibition 7, 8. However, these compounds have numerous other compound-specific chronic effects including delayed polyneuropathy, immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis and endocrine, developmental and reproductive toxicity 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Pirimiphos-methyl (0,2-diethylamino-6-methylpirimidin-4-yl O, O-dimethyl phosphorothioate) is a broad spectrum, non-cumulative organophosphorous pesticide responsible for the hydrolysis of body choline esters including acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses 14, 15, 16. The inhibition of these enzymes increases the availability of acetylcholine which in turn can stimulate cholinergic receptors producing both nicotinic and muscarinic effects in the organism such as muscle contraction and secretion in many glands 16.

Pirimiphos methyl is rapidly absorbed, metabolised and excreted in rats and dogs. In both species, 2-ethyl amino-4-hydroxy-6-methyl pyrimidine is the major metabolite 17. The reproductive organs have been shown to be among the most vulnerable organs to organophosphorous insecticides 18, 19, 20. Pirimiphosmethyl is a cheap pesticide widely used in the world and particularly in Africa to protect food against pests.Therefore, there is a possibility that this compound could affect the reproductive health of humans and wildlife in their natural habitats.To the best of our knowledge, little is known on the effects of pirimiphos-methyl on the male reproductive system. The present work was therefore undertaken in order to access the effect of this pesticide on some biochemical (total proteins, total cholesterol), fertility (sperm density and motility, fertility indices) and histological parameters.

Pirimiphos-methyl (organophosphate insecticide) is a post-harvest insecticide used on stored corn and sorghum grain and seed, incorporated into cattle ear tags, and used for the fogging treatment of iris bulbs. It is used to control various insects such as mealy bugs and mites (on iris bulbs), horn and face flies (on cattle), and cigarette beetle, confused flour beetle; corn sap beetle; flat grain beetle;
hairy fungus beetle; red flour beetle; sawtoothed beetle, granary weevil, maize weevil, merchant grain beetle, rice weevil, lesser grain borer, and angoumois grain moth, Indian Meal moth and almond moth (on corn and sorghum grain and seed).

• Annual domestic use is low-- approximately 12,000 pounds of active ingredient per year. Total
usage is allocated mainly to stored corn grain (39%) ear tags for cattle/calves (36%), stored
sorghum grain (15%), corn seed (5%), and sorghum seed (5%). Regions with significant
usage on cattle include the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and West, and states with significant usage
on corn grain include Iowa and Texas.

[Black Squirrel]

No one disagrees that GMO's are not the best thing for humans or rodents. With that said the only block I know of that's devoid of GMO's/Corn etc are HHB's. I use Envigo Teklad with confidence and supplement with HHB's. Considering many captive squirrels are raised on calcium robbing nuts and bad Exotic Nutrition diets, Teklad / Mazuri are fine as long as properly supplemented with HHB's and the Henry's diet chart. In an ideal world it would be great to be free of these unhealthy products, but this is not an ideal world and sourcing "ideal" products is difficult & costly at best. Not everyone can afford to purchase their raw squirrel block ingredients from the Whole Foods organic section & make boo balls. I know a rehabber in IL who handles over 100 squirrels in a season. All she can afford is Mazuri bulk and after release they eat whatever they can find and drink from puddles with motor oil & Roundup runoff. Tek or Mazuri + HHB's + triangle meet the needs of the individual captive holder. Back to eating my Captain Crunch.

Great Research D.F.

[Diggie's Friend]

Thank you Black Squirrel for your comments.

Even though TD diets contain this pesticide at a higher level than other diets tested, save one; according to present findings on this one specific toxin found in TD diets, the short term exposure to the pesticide wasn't found to cause damage in rats. As for what other issues with other toxic sources it was found to contain and what if any issue they may have at those levels, I don't as yet know. I shared about this one for it was the highest source of this pesticide found in any rat diet source that was tested.

This portion of the original quote I had prior posted, refers to an acute exposure to this pesticide caused by accidental leaks and spills in transport and usage. As such it is not to be confused with the issue of the use of it in animal feeds.

The primary toxicity associated with acute exposure to organophosphate insecticides...

Yet the next portion of the quote, shown here below, refers to the long-term, "chronic exposure" of this pesticide in rats. Other comments on the exposure to this pesticide, voiced concern over its potential to negatively impact both the health of humans and wildlife.

However, these compounds have numerous other compound-specific chronic effects including delayed polyneuropathy, immunotoxicity, carcinogenesis and endocrine, developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans and rats.

For clarification: According to the conclusions quoted from research studies on the pesticide in the Teklad diet; it is long-term usage of of this diet that merits concerns for negatively impacting health, not short-term use, which was not found to impair health in the rats tested.

On this basis, the use of this diet for the purpose of rehabbing to release of juvenile squirrels, and for rescue/rehab of sick or injured squirrels wilds; should not present a health risk to the squirrels supported with this diet short-term.

To save on the cost of HHB. you could make up the HHB Homemade Diet version; I read it does well stored in the freezer.

Thanks again for your feedback comments, it was helpful. DF