Opinion round-up: EFSA backs pathogen and silage targeted feed additives

By Jane Byrne

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Parma European food safety authority Saccharomyces cerevisiae

© istock
© istock
EFSA said an additive, when used in poultry feed, is an effective tool to reduce carcass contamination by Salmonella spp. and so improve the quality of poultry products.

Levucell SB is a feed additive consisting of viable cells of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ​currently authorized as a zootechnical additive for piglets and sows. Lallemand is seeking EU authorization for it to be used as a zootechnical additive for use with broilers and minor poultry species.

The FEEDAP panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in an opinion​ [abstract only] published this week, concluded:

“Five studies were submitted with chickens fed diets with or without the additive and then (in four studies) artificially challenged with Salmonella.

“The fifth study relied on the natural incidence of Salmonella.

“The prevalence of Salmonella contamination was estimated by examining the carcass directly and/or by detection in caecal, cloacal or faecal samples.

“Considering overall the results of the five studies, there is evidence that the addition of Levucell SB to diets at a dose of 2 × 1010 CFU/kg feed can aid the reduction of carcass contamination with Salmonella spp.”

The panel said the same conclusion can be applied to minor avian species for fattening when used at the same dose, but not to minor poultry species for laying.

The opinion noted that as a previous EFSA evaluation​of the additive had found it fulfilled the requirements for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to safety assessment, it could, therefore, be presumed safe for poultry, consumers and the environment.

“The use of the additive with diets the new target species is considered unlikely to introduce hazards for users of the product not already considered in the previous assessment,”​ said the panel.

The opinion has not yet been published in full, with EFSA citing confidentiality factors for the delay.

Silage production

EFSA also concluded​this week that an additive from a strain of Lactobacillus plantarum​, produced by Microferm Ltd, has the potential to improve the production of silage from easy and moderately difficult to ensile forage species by reducing dry matter loss and enhancing protein preservation, at the proposed application rate of 5 × 107​ CFU/kg forage.

The Parma based risk assessor found the identity of the strain is clearly established and, as no antibiotic resistance of concern was detected, it said the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for livestock species, for consumers, and for the environment.

The additive has not been previously authorized as a feed additive in the EU.

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