Diatomaceous earth
Also appears on labels as: food grade diatomaceous earth
The fossilized shells of diatoms, tiny water-dwelling algae, ground into a fine powder that is mostly amorphous silica.
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- Where it comes from
- Mined from old lake and sea beds, then dried and milled.
- Why it's in the product
- A dry powder that carries the actives in a carpet or flea powder.
- Safety and toxicity
- The National Pesticide Information Center says that, breathed in, the dust can irritate the nose and nasal passages. Most diatomaceous earth is amorphous silica, not the crystalline silica of clay litter dust, though it can hold very low levels of crystalline silica.
General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.
Found in 1 scored product
We flag it by name on 1 of them. Lowest scores first.
Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
flagged on this product's score page