Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

Bruce de Grosbois writes,

Your recent email suggests it is safe to feed a parrot grapes. In actuality grapes are sprayed with enough pesticides to quickly kill a bird.

Even organic grapes are dangerous to feed to your bird due to the lack of regulation on the use of the word “Organic”. 

Grapes should never be fed to a parrot, and your email suggesting it is a safe food is going to result in someones beloved bird ending up dead. It is irresponsible of your company to have done this. How hard is it to do some research before sending out an email.

Hi Bruce
  
First clarification: you state ” due to the lack of regulation on the use of the word “Organic”. 
 
The organic seal on food produced in the United States is highly regulated. USDA Organic Regulations 7 CFR Section 205 includes all USDA organic standards, including prohibited practices, requirements, This page from the USDA Organic Certification and Accreditation explains the government regulation policies on organic food.

Grapes have no more or less pesticides sprayed on them than any other vegetable crop in the US. This is why we advise everyone to thoroughly wash any food they give their bird (and themselves) to get rid of these pesticides.
 
Further, contrary to what many believe – “organic” anything can contain up to 2200+ different USDA organic certified pesticides as long as the pesticides themselves are made with compounds commonly produced in nature. You  can verify this on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s site on this page entitled Pesticide Registration Clarification of PR Notice 2003-1
 
As for “Grapes should never be fed to a parrot,”
 
How does this translate to the overall welfare of the bird? Don’t take my word for it. Here’s a list of suggested foods for Parrots, posted on the VCA Animal Hospitals website. VCA is largest chain of animal hospitals in the country and I suspect if grapes were bad for birds they would not be on the list below.

Caveat – comment from Denise’s blog post – 3/30/14 – Can my bird safely eat people food 
 
from Carmen: Why are onions bad for them, my Senegal adores raw onions?
 
In short Carmen, it’s because of the sulfur content.
 
Some suggested food items for parrots include: 

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Mitch Rezman

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