Product Short Description: Only the inorganic selenium salts (sodium selenite and sodium selenate) were available at a cost permitting their use in animal feed. Product Description: Only the inorganic selenium salts sodium selenite were available at a cost permitting their use in animal feed. Because selenium is an essential element, sodium selenite is an ingredient in some food supplements. selenium can be toxic in high doses. NOTE ::: Huge Differences between Sodium Selenite and Sodium Selenate ? Sodium selenate is a common ingredient in some insecticides used against mites, aphids, and mealybugs. For most insects, a dose of 10 mg/kg is enough to be fatal. It is also used in some fungicides.