Adding Peanut Shells ♥ Vita Mix Drinks

Given some Boiled Peanuts by Dani and Claire.  They were outstanding.   However, I could not resist adding a few shells to my Vita-Mix drink.   Next day I searched to see if peanut shells are safe and nutritional..

• pro  Low cost source of fiber and does not alter taste in small amount.
• pro  Elephants like them.
• con  Peanut shells have not really found their way out of being just a waste product.  Some have found there way into dog and animal food.   Some dogs have died.
  

• con Mycotoxins Boiled Peanuts (212°F) and Roasted Peanuts.
  From Marth [1990], mycotoxins (toxins produced by molds) are completely destroyed at their melting point, which is generally at high temperatures: 164°C (327°F) for Zearalenone, 170°C (338°F) for Rubratoxia. When roasting peanuts, the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 is reduced by 70%, and that of aflatoxin B2 by 45%. Thus, heat treatment cannot be considered as a satisfactory means to eliminate mycotoxins.

• con  "Peanuts are susceptible to molds and fungal invasions. Of particular concern is aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus. Although better storage and handling methods have virtually eliminated the risk of aflatoxin ingestion, aflatoxin is a known carcinogen that is twenty times more toxic than DDT and has also been linked to mental retardation and lowered intelligence. To help prevent aflatoxin ingestion, the FDA also enforces a ruling that 20 parts per billion is the maximum of aflatoxin permitted in all foods and animal foods, including peanut butter and other peanut products. If purchasing raw peanuts, it is still wise to ensure that the peanuts have been stored in a dry, cool environment (the fungus grows when the temperature is between 86-96 F and when the humidity is high). Roasted peanuts are thought to offer more protection against aflatoxin, plus roasting is also thought to improve peanuts' digestibility."
  
  
  
  
  
• pro  Considering the practicalities. Remark: We do not recommend worrying excessively about completely avoiding (all of) the foods listed  more,  first of all because the list is not exhaustive and toxins are quite widespread in nature. And secondly because our body has many detoxification mechanisms which are specifically designed to allow it to handle moderate, relatively normal amounts of toxins without deleterious consequences. Our goal, rather, is to show that one needn't be excessively concerned about potential harmful effects of the chemical constituents created by cooking, since all living animals are naturally exposed to quite a variety of toxins in the foods they eat anyway.
• conclusion  Take a chance with no more than 1oz of shells in the Vita-Mix drink and do not make this a daily habit.  Remember that insertion in pet food has killed dogs.  Avoid it in your dog food selection.