Sunflower seeds do not contain antinutritional factors such as those found in other major oilseeds, including soybeans, cottonseeds and rapeseeds. For that reason, it is considered to be a safe feed for all livestock species. However, residues and contaminations from sunflower cultivation, harvest and post-harvest operations may be of concern.
Pesticide residues
Sunflower seeds are prone to insect and mite infestations and proper storage methods should be used to prevent insect development. The use of pesticides may result in residues in the seeds. In the European Union, the maximum acceptable level of pesticide residues in sunflower seeds is set in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 839/2008 (European Union, 2008).
Toxins
Sunflower seeds should be monitored for mycotoxin contamination, including aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin (Finoli et al., 2004).