“Rice bran oil is frequently targeted for economic adulteration (mixing it with cheaper oils) rather than complete counterfeiting. Because pure rice bran oil has a higher market value than many other vegetable oils, dishonest suppliers often cut or dilute it with lower-cost alternatives to increase profits. Instead of being entirely fake, adulterated rice bran oil is typically blended with cheaper oils such as: (1) soybean oil, (2) palm oil or palmolein, (3) cottonseed oil, (4) sunflower oil.”

“Because bamboo shoots and leaves contain a large amount of moisture (often 60% to 90% water), wild pandas get a major portion of their daily hydration directly from the plants they eat. During rainy or spring seasons when shoots are juicy, they can occasionally go a day or two without drinking standing water. When drinking from a stream or pool, pandas typically sip and lick the water for a few minutes at a time. Newborn panda cubs drink exclusively their mother’s milk. In human care, if a mother’s milk supply is low, cubs may also be given a special nutritional formula made from puppy and human infant milk.”

“Due to a gene mutation (TAS1r1) that occurred roughly 4.2 million years ago, pandas lost the ability to taste savory umami flavors. Because meat does not taste rewarding or flavorful to them, they generally lack a natural appetite or enthusiasm for it.”

“A giant panda has a carnivore-style simple stomach rather than the multi-chambered stomach of a traditional plant-eating herbivore (ruminant). Like other bears and meat-eaters, pandas have a single-chambered stomach instead of complex compartments to ferment plants. They retain a short, simple gut and lack specialized plant-digesting enzymes or a diverse herbivore microbiome.

“Although bamboo makes up about 99% of their diet, their digestive system is poorly adapted to it, meaning they can only digest a fraction of what they eat and must spend 10 to 16 hours a day feeding. Research published in Current Biology shows that pandas process bamboo to extract a high-protein, low-fiber macronutrient balance that closely mirrors a carnivore’s diet.”

According to AI …

“A giant panda burns only about 37.7% to 45% of the energy expected for a similarly sized mammal, comparable to a three-toed sloth. Pandas have very low levels of thyroid hormones, which are linked to a genetic mutation in the DUOX2 gene involved in thyroid hormone synthesis. Their brain, liver, and kidneys are relatively small compared to those of other bears.”