LOL Marietta, I wouldn't call myself an "expert", though I do have a science degree (but in Geology). I do however have an expert husband (in chemistry), and through him also access to more experts at UCdavis (in chemistry and biology), and I know where to look for science answers. Plus my husband has some of his books here at home
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So, I had a fairly quick look at the ingredients, and there's not really anything that is outright toxic, though i do question some of them even being there, like the monoammonium phosphate which is an ingredient in fertilizers. I have found no applications for it in any animal or human foods, so I have no idea why that would be there. It is however classified as safe, except in extremely large quantities, but I can't believe you could get enough by just eating the product. The lethal dose for rats is more than 2000mg (or 200 grams) per kg body weight, which is a lot.
Propylene glycol should be safe as well, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined propylene glycol to be "generally recognized as safe" for use in food, cosmetics, and medicines. The oral toxicity of propylene glycol is very low. In one study, rats were provided with feed containing as much as 5% PG over a period of 104 weeks and they showed no apparent ill effects.
But I did find this: "However, propylene glycol is not approved for use in cat food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that propylene glycol in or on cat food has not been shown by adequate scientific data to be safe for use. Use of propylene glycol in or on cat food causes the feed to be adulterated and in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 21CFR589.1001".
Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI) is added to animal feeds as a source of iodide. "EDDI is used as a pet food additive and cattle feed additive with high bioavailability. It is used to prevent iodine deficiency. The United States Food and Drug Administration suggests a limit of intake to 50 mg/head/day."
As others have mentioned, coming from China though, you don't really know what is in this product, and I would be wary of it as well.
Then of course there's the fact that it contains all those seeds, which are said to be bad for rabbits, because they can cause compaction in the guts, resulting in stasis and bloat. I don't know enough about rats, so I don't know whether they can cause the same in rats? Someone with rats may know?
And the pine shavings may or may not be toxic, depending on whether they have been kiln dried to remove the toxic phenols, or not. Which is not stated anywhere on the product label, AFAIK.
It also contains food dyes, which I know are labeled safe to be used, even in human food, but personally I try to stay clear of those as well. They can have adverse effects in children, and If I won't feed them to my kids, I won't feed them to my buns either. (well, I didn't when the kids were little... can't tell them anything anymore now that they're big, LOL)
Anyway, if I were you, I'd return it to the store and get my money back, or get something healthy instead.
