A. There are lots of things
that can be poisonous to parrots, so there are some healthy
snacks listed below that your bird will love.
|
l. Corn
2. Sweet potatoes
3. Cauliflower |
4. Brussel sprouts
5. Grapes (U.S.)
6. Bananas |
7. Plums
8. Watermelon
9. Broccoli |
|
l. Strawberries
2. Bell peppers (green and red)
3. Spinach (tied with 2)
4. U.S. grown cherries
5. Peaches
6. Mexican grown cantaloupe |
7. Celery
8. Apples
9. Apricots
10. Green beans
11. Chilean-grown grapes
12. Cucumbers |
The above list contains many of the foods that that we feed our
parrots daily. Unfortunately, according to a study by the
non-profit Environmental Working Group, they are the most
toxic conventionally grown fruits and vegetables! This
report, Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, is
based on data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
studies. It found that more than half of the health risks
associated with pesticides are concentrated in these twelve
fruits and vegetables! Of the 42 fruits and vegetables tested,
strawberries were by far the most toxic. They were given a
toxicity score of 189 of a possible 200 points, far greater than
bell peppers and spinach, which tied at a score of 155. U.S.
grown cherries rated 154 and peaches 150. The least contaminated
food in this group, cucumbers, scored a disturbing117 of 200
possible points.
We are fortunate indeed that corn, a big favorite of many
species of parrots, is one of the least toxic foods available.
Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious foods on earth,
sometimes referred to as the perfect food, and it too is a
favorite of many parrot species. Broccoli is another super food
and if our birds don't like it raw, often they will enjoy it
lightly steamed. We also can feed grapes and cantaloupes safely
if we give them in season, from May through December.
Strawberry
growers everywhere use large amounts of pesticides, particularly
fungicides. The FDA detected thirty different pesticides
on strawberries, second only to apples with thirty-six. Based on
a two year sampling, strawberries were found to contain
captan, benomyl, vinclozolin, iprodione, and endosulfan.
These pesticides not only are carcinogenic in humans, but
disrupt the endocrine system as well. Unless one is lucky enough
to locate a source of organically grown strawberries, in my
opinion, they never should be fed to parrots! Other fruits with
far lower pesticide residues can be offered. Substitute
blueberries, raspberries, oranges, grapefruit, watermelon and
kiwis.
Bell
peppers are more heavily
contaminated with neurotoxic insecticides than all other crops
analyzed. Although green peppers are high in vitamin C, and red
peppers add vitamin A and carotenoids, there are several less
toxic alternatives. Substitute broccoli, romaine lettuce,
green peas, asparagus, brussel sprouts or carrots.
Spinach
contains DDT, permethrin, chlorthalonil and other carcinogenic
pesticides. Because of this and its calcium binding properties,
Popeye the Parrot would not be a very healthy specimen!
Substitute broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus and romaine
lettuce.
Cherries
from the U.S. are three times more contaminated with pesticides
than their imported counterparts, which are among the cleanest
fruits and vegetables analyzed. Domestic cherries were found to
contain twenty-six different pesticides! Except for their
marginal amounts of vitamin C and their value as a treatment for
gout, they are not as nutritious as many other fruits.
However cherries DO contain a powerful compound known as ellagic
acid that counteracts carcinogens, so it is worthwhile to
seek out imported cherries. Substitute oranges, watermelon,
blueberries, raspberries and kiwi.
Peaches
are heavily contaminated with cancer causing fungicides and
neuro-toxic pesticides. Peaches contain low amounts of vitamins
A and C, but many other less contaminated fruits provide as many
or more nutritional benefits. Substitute nectarines,
watermelon, tangerines, grapefruits, oranges and kiwis.
Cantaloupes
from Mexico tested positive for two or more pesticides in
forty-eight percent of the samples, more than any other crop
analyzed. Avoid offering this food to parrots during January
through April, when Mexican imports are at their peak.
Substitute U.S. cantaloupe in season, papaya, nectarines and
watermelon.
Celery
is a major source of exposure to neurotoxic pesticides.
Eighty-one percent of samples tested contained detectable
residues. This could mean that eight out of ten bites of celery
that a parrot takes are bites of pesticides. Considering the
minimal amounts of nutrition in celery, it is not worth the
risk. Substitute carrots, romaine lettuce, broccoli and
radishes.
Apples
contain thirty-six different pesticides, more than any
other fruit or vegetable, according to FDA data! Who said an
apple a day keeps the vet away? Substitute pears, U.S.
cantaloupe, kiwi, watermelon, nectarines, bananas or citrus
fruit.
Apricots
contain such high levels of pesticides, fourteen different kinds
to be exact, that it is better to feed our parrots other fruits
that are equally high in vitamins A and C and potassium.
Substitute nectarines, tangerines, U.S. cantaloupes, watermelon,
oranges and grapefruit.
Green beans
are a major source of carcinogenic fungicides, neurotoxins, and
endocrine disruptors. They provide only modest amounts of
nutrients anyway so unless we can find organically grown greens
beans, better leave them off our parrots' plates. Substitute
green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, asparagus
and potatoes.
Grapes
from Chile add a load of cancer causing and endocrine-disrupting
fungicides to our parrots' diets. From January through April, a
whopping ninety percent of the grapes sold in the U.S. are from
Chile, where growers use less sophisticated pest control
techniques than U.S. growers. Substitute domestic grapes in
season.
Cucumbers
contain unacceptable levels of Dieldrin, an extremely
carcinogenic pesticide that was banned in the U.S. over twenty
years ago. Unfortunately it is persistent in the soil and is
taken up by cucumbers. One of every fourteen cucumber samples
from across the U.S. and Mexico contained this highly toxic
compound. Substitute carrots, romaine lettuce, broccoli or
radishes.
Now that we
know the twelve most contaminated foods, here are some foods
that are low in pesticides and high in vitamins, minerals, and
carotenoids. Sweet potatoes, broccoli, watermelon and
brussel sprouts provide lots of vitamins, carotenoids, and
minerals, along with relatively few pesticides.
To complement
the twelve most contaminated crops, The Environmental Working
Group compiled a list of the twelve cleanest crops. Ironically,
avocados which are poisonous to parrots, are the very cleanest
food that was tested! Onions, and green onions are not generally
considered suitable parrot foods either, so these three foods
are not included in the list below. These nine foods rank from
only 14 of a possible 200 points in toxicity for corn, to 49 for
broccoli. These are the lowest contamination scores of
the fruits and vegetables commonly fed to parrots.
|
l. Corn
2. Sweet potatoes
3. Cauliflower |
4. Brussel sprouts
5. Grapes (U.S.)
6. Bananas |
7. Plums
8. Watermelon
9. Broccoli |
