Is this safe??

[krodgers]

So I don't know a lot about DE but I'm learning. I took some to the pen with me and of course it was all over my hands. I was spreading in the dirt where they take their dust baths and I noticed an egg beside the nesting box. I wiped my hands off and picked up the egg. Now I'm being paranoid about getting any of the DE on the egg. I know it's safe for human consumption but still...
Am I overreacting? Should I wash the egg and refrigerate, or should I toss it? I didn't douse it in DE, like I said I wiped my hands off before picking it up. I've just heard all kinds of mixed reviews about it that it kinda makes me paranoid. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[SueT]

So I don't know a lot about DE but I'm learning. I took some to the pen with me and of course it was all over my hands. I was spreading in the dirt where they take their dust baths and I noticed an egg beside the nesting box. I wiped my hands off and picked up the egg. Now I'm being paranoid about getting any of the DE on the egg. I know it's safe for human consumption but still...
Am I overreacting? Should I wash the egg and refrigerate, or should I toss it? I didn't douse it in DE, like I said I wiped my hands off before picking it up. I've just heard all kinds of mixed reviews about it that it kinda makes me paranoid. Any advice is appreciated!

Yes it's safe. DE, diatomaceous earth, is just ground up skeletons of tiny diatoms. It kills insects by scratching their exoskeleton and causing them to bleed or dehydrate. It's not toxic.

 

[sylviethecochin]

If it was unsafe, or even moderately harmful to human consumption (see: "known to cause cancer in the state of California" warning labels) there would be stickers all over even the FDA-approved bags. Besides, you're not eating the shell. Don't worry about it.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Being it's just on the shell I think once it's rinsed it will be perfectly fine. I use it on the plants in my vegetable garden so sometimes it will get on the vegetables but I just rinse off and eat and I've never had any problems. I've heard some people mix it in their food and eat it because it's grabs your intestines. I've never tried that and don't know if I would but a little bit being on the eggshell shouldn't be a problem at all

 

[krodgers]

Thanks!!! You guys are awesome! I can always count on BYC to answer any of my questions even when they are "silly" questions.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Thanks!!! You guys are awesome! I can always count on BYC to answer any of my questions even when they are "silly" questions.

No questions are silly here

 

[ChicketySplit]

No worries- since it is not a chemical like other insect treatments, food-grade DE won't contaminate your egg. Although it appears and feels like a dust, it kills insects by mechanical means by puncturing the exoskeletons, causing them to bleed to death. If you looked at diatomaceous earth under a microscope, you would see the spiky structure, but it is so small it feels smooth in our hands. It will not penetrate our skin or your chicken egg.

Many people I know incorporate it into baked goods. I'm sure I have inadvertently. Over the last two decades, I have dusted my grains and seeds with food grade DE so that insects cannot ruin them in storage. I rinse many of the grains I use for cooking, not because I'm concerned about the DE, but because it came from the field & I prefer not to eat dirt, lol! I usually don't rinse my bread grains 'tho, so I'm sure I've ingested plenty of DE over the years.

One precaution I take is to wear a dust mask and keep my birds out when I am applying DE. The dust can be irritating to the lungs and cause respiratory issues.

Anyway, I'm alive and kicking after all these years - hope that helps!