EU Evaluates the Safety and Efficacy of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 as a Silage Additive for All Animal Species

On 25 July 2024, the European Food Safety Authority, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), announced the results of an important scientific assessment that has direct relevance to livestock and food safety. The EU Research Group on Additives and Products for Animal Feed (FEEDAP), specially commissioned by the European Commission, has carried out a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of a Lactobacillus plantarum called Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271. To confirm its safety and efficacy as a silage additive for all types of animals.

The evaluation report elaborated the various considerations of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 in silage application. First, from a safety perspective, the expert Panel has conducted a rigorous review and confirmed that under the recommended conditions of use, the strain does not pose any known safety risk to all animal species, including poultry, domestic animals and aquatic animals. This conclusion is based on the precise identification of the strain and comprehensive screening of potential antimicrobial resistance genes in its genome, which showed that no resistance genes of concern were found. The FEEDAP expert Panel therefore agreed that the use of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 as a silage additive does not pose a threat to animal health, food safety or environmental protection.

However, while concerned about the safety of the additive to animals and the environment, the FEEDAP panel is also cautious about the potential impact it may have on humans. Additives containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 should be considered as a potential allergen, especially in people with sensitive skin and respiratory tract, where direct contact with these additives may cause allergic reactions. It is important to note that although a particular formulation has been proven to be non-irritating to the skin and eyes, the Panel cautions that the potential irritant risks of all formulations cannot be ruled out in a blanket manner due to the many different formulations of additive products available on the market.

In terms of effectiveness, the findings of the FEEDAP expert panel are equally encouraging. They found that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 showed significant potential in improving the fermentation quality of silage. Especially for silage made of fresh plant material containing 30% to 35% moisture, the addition of this strain can significantly improve the fermentation efficiency and quality of feed. Specifically, the recommended addition amount should be at least 108 colony-forming units (CFU) per kilogram of fresh feed to ensure its optimal effect. This discovery not only provides a more efficient and environmentally friendly feed preservation method for animal husbandry, but also brings new market opportunities for feed production enterprises.

In summary, the evaluation report of the EFSA FEEDAP Expert Group on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271 as a silage additive not only reveals the positive role of the strain in animal health, food safety and environmental protection. At the same time, it also reminds us to pay attention to its potential impact on human health in practical applications. With the continuous progress of science and technology and the continuous optimization of animal husbandry production methods, we have reason to believe that on the basis of rational use of high-quality feed additives such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 34271, animal husbandry will embrace a greener, healthy and sustainable future.