Food-grade diatomaceous earth, often sold as fossil shell flour, is a fine mineral powder made from the fossilised remains of freshwater diatoms. It is used as a pantry ingredient and in food manufacturing. It is not the same product as filter-grade or industrial diatomaceous earth.
Nutra Nourished sells food-grade fossil shell flour as vegan capsules and as a 250g powder, filled on the Gold Coast.
What is fossil shell flour?
Fossil shell flour and food-grade diatomaceous earth are two names for the same food-style material. Diatoms are microscopic algae with silica-rich shells. Over a long period those shells form sedimentary deposits. When the deposit is processed to a food-grade specification, the result is a pale, fine powder.
The powder is a single-ingredient mineral product. It naturally contains silica and other minerals found in that raw material. Nutra Nourished versions are filled in Australia with no fillers, flavours, GMOs, or artificial additives.
Food-grade vs filter-grade vs industrial
This distinction matters more than the brand name on the bag. Diatomaceous earth is a family of products, not one item.
| Grade | Typical use | Sold as food? |
|---|---|---|
| Food-grade | Pantry ingredient; food manufacturing, including as an authorised anti-caking agent in powdered foods | Yes, when labelled as food-grade |
| Filter-grade | Pool filters, beer and wine filtration, industrial filtration | No |
| Industrial / garden grades | Abrasives, absorbents, and other non-food uses | No |
Only buy material that is clearly labelled food-grade. Do not use pool filter powder, garden powder, or industrial diatomaceous earth in food. Those are different specifications.
How it is used in food
In food manufacturing, silicon dioxide and related silica materials are used to keep powdered foods free-flowing. That is an anti-caking role: the powder keeps dry mixes from clumping. Food-grade fossil shell flour is also sold in small packs for home kitchens, as a powder or in capsules.
That is a food use. It is not a listed medicine, and Nutra Nourished does not present it as one.
Capsules or powder
Both formats are the same food-grade material, packed differently.
- Powder — a 250g bag you can add to recipes. See the fossil shell flour powder listing for pack size, storage, and label directions.
- Capsules — vegan capsules at 1,400mg per serve, 120 capsules per bottle. See the capsule listing for the current label.
Use only as directed on the label. If you want kitchen recipes rather than a measured capsule serve, the powder is the format that goes into food.
How Nutra Nourished makes it
The food-grade material is sourced from the United States and filled in Australia. Filling happens on the Gold Coast. The range sits in the fossil shell flour collection.
When you compare products, look for:
- Clear food-grade wording on the label
- A single-ingredient statement
- Country of fill and supplier information
- Serving size, storage, and warnings on the same pack you will use
FAQ
Is fossil shell flour the same as diatomaceous earth?
Yes, when the diatomaceous earth is food-grade. Fossil shell flour is the name often used for that food-grade powder. Filter-grade and industrial diatomaceous earth are different products.
Can food-grade diatomaceous earth be used in the kitchen?
Food-grade material is sold as a pantry product. Follow the label on the pack you buy. Do not use non-food grades in food.
Is it a medicine in Australia?
No. Nutra Nourished fossil shell flour is a food-style product. It is not entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as a medicine, and it is not advertised as one.
Does it contain silica?
The fossilised diatom shells are a silica-rich mineral material. That is a statement about composition, not a health claim.
Where is Nutra Nourished fossil shell flour filled?
Food-grade material is sourced from the United States and filled on the Gold Coast, Australia.
Important
This is a food-style product. It is not a medicine and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Vitamin and mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18, or have a medical condition, talk to a health professional before use. Always follow the product label.