Can I just use the canaryseed I see sold as bird food at the pet store?
No. Today most canaryseed sold as bird food is still the traditional variety that has potentially dangerous silica fibers on the hull. Several peer-reviewed scientific studies have indicated that human consumption of flour contaminated with these silica hairs is linked to esophageal cancer. Silica inside the lungs and throat may cause health problems. It’s possible that the tiny needle-like shape of the traditional canaryseed silica spicules, similar to asbestos fibers, is part of what may cause cell damage. If you buy and consume canaryseed sold as bird food you take that risk.
