So I just got all the stuff together to start sprouting seeds, and then I found out that apparently sprouting is kind of controversial? Some people say the chance of bacteria, even with the use of stuff like apple cider vinegar, makes it not worth trying, and now I'm worried.

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Nah you’re ok. I sprout using the mason jar menthod. As long as you routines rinse multiple times a day, and make sure the sprouts aren’t excessively wet when you go to store them in the fridge (I let them sit on a paper towel for 12 hours before I store them) you’ll be fine.

I don’t personally use ACV in the process.

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I mean TECHNICALLY, they are "risky" for humans, but I have eaten many and been okay (think about grandma's advice, vs official advice...that's like sprouts vs non-- only it isn't quite like grandma, unless she was a parrot lol!) ...I'm on both sides of the fence here..



I wouldn't just say that they are 100% safe... probably like 75%-90% safe if you are a healthy human (just a total guess) and much less if you have a compromised immune system or bad batch..
They do have a TON of health benefits...but not risk free for captive birds or people
Many healthy parrots eat them and do just fine, but there is a lot up in the air because many parrots also die of seemingly random things and most people don't get a necroscopy, so there are no solid studies tabulating avian deaths in relation to sprouts (at least, not that I have found, although many owners of healthy birds do feed sprouts)..the sprout feeders with live birds will tell you positives, but the sprout feeders whose parrots may have died will not necessarily connect the dots...There are many parrots who have died from E.coli and other bacteria contracted within human homes, but that can happen with or without sprouts-- you just have to consider the fact that human contamination is more risky to birds than most of the types of bacteria sprouts would contain in the "wild"...although captive parrots also lack resistance to a lot of those. At the same time, a bird can get sick from a human's bacteria without eating sprouts.


If YOU sprout yourself, your hands should be exceptionally clean, as well as the container and the water used (and water must be changed with exceptionally clean hands daily more than once--like, if you touch the faucet, your hands are not clean anymore). It's a perfect situation to grow bacteria, so the less you introduce the better when DIYing it---I'm not saying when I sprouted for myself I was always pristine at all, but when it comes to birds that can't handle certain human bacteria, it's more important (because although many would be fine, if it can kill a human and humans can tolerate a level of gram negative bacteria, then it's important to reduce risk as much as possible). You should buy seeds specifically intended for sprouting, as the beans/seeds sold for cooking are NOT food-grade when raw--they are exposed to more junk because the assumption is that they will be cooked. There is still the possibility that the special seeds will contain bacteria internally (I researched this for hours before I had a bird, just out of curiosity for myself--not because I am paranoid, but because I was eating them like 4x a day and sprout recalls kept popping up). It's far safer to get seeds intended for sprouting if you sprout your own, but even then, it's a risk. Here's a human dangers link, but this is just one side of the coin---they are tasy and healthy...I eat them...bird doesn't because I am too stressed already with work to deal with her getting sick on the off-chance, BUT I think everything is a balancing act-- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-s...b09b6055fedde3


If you buy sprouts, again, not risk free (but beneficial when the batch is safe-- it is a bit of a gamble though because even sprouting seeds can contain internal bacteria, and human experience (e.g., I never got sick, really can't compare to a bird's and just because one bird is fine, doesn't mean another couldn't get sick from the same batch)...
Blanching quickly, followed by a cold-water rinse can also reduce some of the issues in certain sprouts, but it can totally wilt others and it's not 100% effective as far as eliminating all risk (although it can reduce it some-- the thing is, it takes away some of the experience and a bit of the nutrition---though not as much as cooking, as a blanch is a brief immersion.



If you look this up, you will find that people periodically die from eating them. I have never gotten sick from them (raw or whatever), but they are not the SAFEST food out there and I also have the stomach of a goat....For a human, I'd say it's probably as risky as eating raw cookie dough and more risky than eating an egg over easy (they tell pregnant women, young children and elderly people, as well as those with immune issues to avoid them is the US)....the danger to a parrot would depend on the level and type of contamination, but certainly humans have a higher tolerance for certain bacteria (gram negative) than parrots.


Bottom line-- it's not risk free but it can benefit them and lots of owners do it, but many also avoid it due to potential risks..

Lots of birds are fine...BUT it also depends on your home, hygiene, bacteria on your hands, type of bacteria etc, seeds used to sprout, health of the bird etc etc etc..So don't go into it freaking out, but also know that they are a riskier food (despite the intense benefits they can bring nutritionally)

I am NOOOT a huge fan of the FDA, but here is what they said : https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-...eeds-sprouting

I really don't have a straight answer, and despite the risks to people, I personally still eat them, but "risky"...I would say they can be.

No hun in short, coming straight to the point, use your common sense in terms of hygiene which should be the case for you and yours tbh.



Like Chis says rinse several times a day, your nose is a good tool too! If it smells funky it probably is, dump it and start again. I use Grapefruit Seed Extract in mine in the soaking water (drop or two) and again in the final rinse/wash through, then leave to drain in a sieve. I think this was adopted from info from Jason Crean.



I know there is controversy regards GSE, it works for me, no problems with the sprouts or the birds, it does need plenty of rinsing but keeps the funk at bay I know there are those who'd like to pick holes with this though. :-)



I like Leslie Moran, she has a couple of books out on sprouting if interested. Latest "Polly Want a Sprout?" Leslie Moran 2020

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Controversial? Never heard that before, I learned something new. I have been sprouting for my birds for years and I have never had a problem. I buy sprout blends off of Amazon from Todds and the Sprout House along with sprouting stuff I buy from the grocery store like popcorn and mung beans. Right now I am sprouting a tricolor popcorn blend that I got at a local store and it is sold on Amazon too. I make small batches that will be eaten in a few days and then sprout something different.

https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Country.../dp/B00017LEZC

Sprouts have a nasty habit of turning sour. But as said, proper hygiene greatly reduces the risk!
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-wel...safety-advice/

I never store them, what I don’t use is tossed!

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..David..

Hi,

I am new to sprouting and still learning. I have some questions as well.

1) I always read about sprouting, but never about microgreens. Microgreen would grow for days and I wouldn't feed the seeds with them, which would make them safer, right?

2) Rinsing is possible only with specific growing mediums. I guess it's possible to do only in a jar and with paper. I am testing hydroponic cotton (absorbent cotton), but this will surely be ok just for microgreens.

3) What are the dangers related to organic seeds? I bought several seeds from wholefoods online that were not specifically intended for sprouting, but they are organic.

4) Do you freeze sprouted seeds? Unluckily freezing doesn't kill bacteria, so it probably doesn't help much.

5) I read several times about the GSE, which I assume is used as antibacterial agent, but are there studies that actually show that it is useful for this scenario? I have a book that specifically says to use 20-25 drops per gallon of water, but I am not sure how the author got to this conclusion.

6) are there good articles/books I should read? I bought A Parrot's Fine Cousine Cookbook but it never talks about the dangers of sprouting

sorry about all the questions, I know it's a lot to ask haha :P