Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 68 (FGE.68): Consideration of cinnamyl alcohol and related flavouring agents evaluated by JECFA (55th meeting) structurally related to aryl-substituted saturated and unsaturated primary alcohol/aldehyde/ac

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil from Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (cassia leaf oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

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 an essential oil from leaves, stalks and twigs of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (cassia leaf oil) when used as a sensory additive (flavouring) in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. Owing to the presence of styrene in cassia leaf oil, the FEEDAP Panel is not in the position to conclude for long-living animals and animals for reproduction. For 'short-living' animals, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that cassia leaf oil is considered as safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed of 28.5 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and other minor poultry, 38 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 51 mg/kg for piglets and other minor Suidae, 61 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 100 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer), 60 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and other ruminants for fattening, 30 mg/kg for horses, 25 mg/kg for rabbits, 125 mg/kg for salmonids and other fin fish. For the other minor species, the additive is considered as safe at 28.5 mg/kg complete feed. For 'short-living' animals, the FEEDAP Panel considered the use 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. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of the additive at the use levels considered safe in feed for the target species. When handling the essential oil, exposure of unprotected users to styrene cannot be excluded. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. The use of the additive under the proposed conditions in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Cassia leaf oil was recognised to flavour food. Since its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture from the bark of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon tincture) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

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 a tincture from the bark of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a water/ethanol ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 0.9%. The product contains on average 0.344% polyphenols (of which 0.001% are flavonoids) and 0.001% cinnamaldehyde. Methyleugenol was present at the limit of detection in one out of the five batches examined. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that cinnamon tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species except horses. For horses, the maximum proposed use level of 60 mg/kg complete feed is considered safe. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of cinnamon tincture up to the highest proposed use levels in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the cinnamon tincture as a flavour in animal feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since C. verum and cinnamon bark extracts are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the tincture under application.

Safety and efficacy of aryl-substituted primary alcohol, aldehyde, acid, ester and acetal derivatives belonging to chemical group 22 when used as flavourings for all animal species

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 18 compounds belonging to chemical group (CG) 22. They are currently authorised as flavours in food. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that: cinnamaldehyde [05.014] is safe at the maximum use level of 125 mg/kg complete feed for salmonids, veal calves and dogs, and at 25 mg/kg for the remaining target species; cinnamyl alcohol [02.017], 3-phenylpropan-1-ol [02.031], 3-(p-cumenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde [05.045], α-methylcinnamaldehyde [05.050], 3-phenylpropanal [05.080], cinnamic acid [08.022], cinnamyl acetate [09.018], cinnamyl butyrate [09.053], 3-phenylpropyl isobutyrate [09.428], cinnamyl isovalerate [09.459], cinnamyl isobutyrate [09.470], ethyl cinnamate [09.730], methyl cinnamate [09.740] and isopentyl cinnamate [09.742] are safe at the proposed maximum use level of 5 mg/kg complete feed for all target species; 2-phenylpropanal [05.038], α-pentylcinnamaldehyde [05.040] and α-hexylcinnamaldehyde [05.041] are safe at the proposed maximum dose level of 5 mg/kg complete feed for all target species except cats, for which 1 mg/kg is safe. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of these compounds up to the highest proposed level in feeds. Irritation and sensitisation hazards for skin and irritation for eye are recognised for the majority of the compounds under application. Respiratory exposure may also be hazardous. For the majority of the compounds belonging to CG 22, the maximum proposed use levels are considered safe for the environment. For α-pentylcinnamaldehyde and α-hexylcinnamaldehyde, a use level up to 0.1 mg/kg feed would not cause a risk for the terrestrial and fresh water compartments. Because all the compounds under assessment are used in food as flavourings and their function in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.