The European Union assesses the safety and efficacy of cinnamon bark essential oil and cinnamon leaf essential oil as feed additives for all animals

On October 25, 2022, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), at the request of the European Commission, The European Union Animal Feed Additives and Products (FEEDAP) Study Group gives a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil as additives for all animal feed.

Some of the original reports are as follows:

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of essential oils from the bark and the leaves of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil), when used as sensory additives (flavourings) in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. Owing to the presence of styrene in the essential oils under assessment, the FEEDAP Panel is not in the position to conclude on the safety for long-living animals and animals for reproduction. 'short - living animals. the FEEDAP Panel concluded that cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil are considered as safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed. For 'short-living' animals, the Panel considered the use of cinnamon bark oil in water for drinking as safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. For cinnamon leaf oil, the proposed use level in water for drinking of 3 mg/L is considered as safe for 'short-living' animals. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of the additives at the use level considered safe in feed for the target species. based on the presence of safrole ≥0.1%, cinnamon leaf oil and bark oil are classified as carcinogen (category 1B) and handled accordingly. The use of the additives under the proposed conditions in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since C. verum and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for cinnamon essential oils.