The European Union assesses the safety and efficacy of glycerol PEGylated ricinoleate as a feed additive for all animals

On October 28, 2022, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), at the request of the European Commission, The European Union Study Group on Animal Feed Additives and Products (FEEDAP) issued a scientific opinion on the safety and effectiveness of glyceryl polyethylenemethodologies ricinoleate as an additive to all animal feed.

After evaluation, the Panel concluded that the additive is safe for consumers and the environment under the recommended conditions of use. The panel was unable to draw conclusions about the efficacy of additives as feed emulsifiers due to a lack of sufficient data. Part of the original report is as follows:

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of glyceryl polyethyleneglycol ricinoleate (PEG castor oil) as technological feed additive for all animal species. PEG castor oil is safe at a maximum concentration in complete feed of 90 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and other minor growing poultry; 134 mg/kg for laying hens and other laying/breeding birds kept for egg production/reproduction; 121 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening; 162 mg/kg for piglets and other minor growing Suidae; 194 mg/kg for pigs for fattening; 236 mg/kg for sows other minor reproductive Suidae; 231 mg/kg for dairy cows and other dairy ruminants (other than sheep/goats); 142 mg/kg in rabbits and 377 mg/kg in veal calves; 356 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and other growing ruminants, sheep, goat, horses and cats; 427 mg/kg for dogs; 407 mg/kg for salmonids and other fin fish; And 1584 mg/kg for ornamental fish. For other growing species and non - food producing animals, the additive is considered safe at 90 mg/kg complete feed. The use of PEG castor oil as feed additive for all animal species would be of no concern for the consumer. The FEEDAP Panel considered inhalation exposure of the user to the additive unlikely. PEG castor oil is not considered a skin sensitiser. The panel was not in the position to conclude on the potential of the additive to be a skin or eye irritant. The additive is a readily biodegradable substance and is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. The lack of sufficient data does not allow the FEEDAP Panel to conclude on the efficacy of PEG castor oil as an emulsifier in feeding-stuffs.