Industrial contaminants
In February, Germany alerted the EU authorities to the high level of dioxins in apple pomace from the Ukraine.
FEFAC notes the decline in the number of EU RASFF warnings in recent years in relation to dioxin contaminants in feed shows the risk management system is working.
There were 15 such notifications in 2014, 16 in 2013 and 24 the previous year.
“While the intensity of monitoring is much higher than in the past [the fact that] the number of notifications remains roughly the same is rather encouraging as to the efficacy of the risk management systems in place to prevent contaminated stuffs getting into the market,” said Arnaud Bouxin, deputy secretary general at FEFAC, previously.
On dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in 2014, the notifications related to mostly fatty feed materials from diverse origins. Dioxin levels observed were only in the range of a few ppt except for fish oil, found the RASFF report for that year.
A co-product of cider industry, the pomace comprises the pulp and skin that remains after pressing mainly apples and occasionally pears.
It is said to be a highly succulent moist feed, providing a good source of digestible fiber that can be used as either a forage extender or concentrate feed for ruminants.