Fossil Shell Flour – Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth

Perma-Guard is the original and largest supplier of registered food-grade diatomaceous earth products in the world and is imported from the United States. Not all Diatomaceous Earth is Food Grade. There are many cheaper versions of Diatomaceous Earth starting to flood the market in Australia, we suggest you check that the product is registered/certified food grade before making any purchases as many types can contain impurities making them unsafe for consumption. To date, there is no Australian Diatomaceous Earth that is certified as Food Grade. Some Diatomaceous Earth claimed as food grade contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective. Depending upon how the deposits were formed, clay particles may be present in sufficient quantities to clog the pores of the fossilized shells. If this is the case, the effectiveness of the Diatomaceous Earth is severely reduced. The shape of the diatom must be tubular with holes in the walls. It must be fresh water because the diatoms form a harder shell and are less fragile than those in salt water. Perma-Guard Fossil Shell Flour DE is registered Food Grade and is 100% pure, organic and contains no chemicals.

Out of 600 deposits in the US only 4 are considered “Food Grade” by the FDA standards

Warning: When purchasing Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour Diatomaceous Earth, you should be looking for something that is off-white/bone in colour. The photo above is a comparison of the Perma-Guard brand on the left and an Australian version of fine grade Diatomaceous Earth on the right, as you can see there is a large comparison in colour, this is mainly due to clay deposits found in the Australian products.

Perma-Guard Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour (DE) – amorphous silica as diatoms (microfossils) is more than 99% and the crystalline silica is generally regarded as less than 0.5%.

PERMA-GUARD is the trade name for a grade and quality of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and comes from the USA. Actually, DE is not an earth. It is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells of freshwater plankton Algae/plants called DIATOMS.

These products do not contain persistent chemicals harmful to the environment and to higher forms of life. Although not harmful to animals or the environment generally, it may be harmful to fish.

All diatomaceous earth is not the same. Diatomaceous earth packaged under our Fossil Shell Flour (FSF) label comes from an extremely pure fresh water deposit of the diatom Melosira Preicelanica. Why is this diatom so special? Its shell is made of amorphous silica. Its shape and hardness are important to how it works. Its hardness keeps it from dissolving in liquid. The holes along the diatom’s wall allow it to absorb moisture.

Why fresh water vs. salt water DE? Fresh water deposits like ours have a consistent diatom presence. Their fossilized shells have maintained their tubular shape. This shape and strength of the fossil shell is critical to its effectiveness. Our deposit has very high amorphous silica content. Our deposit is more consistent in purity of other elements that have settled in it. Salt water deposits contain a mix of types of diatoms of different shapes. Their fossilized shells are fragile and break easily. This renders them ineffective for our purposes. The salt water deposits are less predictable in their sediments.

What’s the difference between amorphous and crystalline silica? Amorphous silica is silica in its natural occurring state. It is a trace mineral every mammal on the planet needs to gain full health. It becomes crystalline when it is exposed to extreme heat through volcanic activity or commercial manufacturing means, e.g. the type of diatomaceous earth used in swimming pool, and other, filtration systems is crystalline silica. Crystalline silica is extremely dangerous when inhaled or ingested. It is not biodegradable.

In Australia, Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour has only been approved for sale as an Anti-Caking Agent and animal feed, therefore we can only advertise it as such. Please see the manufacturers website www.perma-guard.com to find out more or research on the internet (google, youtube etc). In Australia it is currently not approved as a human health product, in other countries such as USA and Canada the Perma-Guard brand of Fossil Shell Flour Food Grade DE is approved by PMRA & Health Canada, USDA, FDA and EPA.

Check out these other resources relating to Diatomaceous Earth:

• http://youtu.be/1g0poR4tWrs – some say this is the most important video you’ll ever watch…
• http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html#symptoms – General D.E. Fact sheet from the US National Pesticide Information Center
• http://www.fix.com/blog/diatomaceous-earth/ – 9 ways to use DE.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkOgcUa2VK4 – See what the manufacturers have to say about the product

Stock Feeds

Perma-Guard (Fossil Shell Flour®) from USA has been reviewed and is now listed with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).

In the course of marketing our Fossil Shell Flour as an anti-caking agent, we have been astonished by some of the benefits claimed by long-term users. They are as follows:

• Safe and nontoxic
• Stimulates basic metabolism
• Converts feed better
• Reduces odor and moisture in barns and stalls
• Results in better coat and/or hoof condition
• Cost effective
• Reduces annual vet bills
• Reduces overall animal stress

Used For

Internal parasites, External parasites (i.e dust mites, fleas, flies), increased silica (beneficial for hair, skin & nails), plaque reduction, arthritic & joint pain, Snail/slug/bug/insect prevention (not to be used on flowers or buds)

Suggested Feeding Instructions

Add 1-2% of the weight of the feed rations. It doesn’t have to be exact. More will not be harmful, but less may not give you the results expected.

* Avoid inhalation (as with all small particles they can cause health issues if breathed in).

Storage Conditions

For best results store sealed in a cool dry place.

Please see attachment for animal application rates. (click on the attachments tab).

Sizes: 0.5kg,1kg, 2.5kg, 5kg, 10kg and 22.68kg – please click down arrow to choose size.