Safety and efficacy of lactic acid and calcium lactate when used as technological additives for all animal species

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of lactic acid produced by Weizmannia coagulans (synonym Bacillus coagulans) DSM 32789 for all animal species except for fish (Jungbunzlauer SA)

Following a request from the European Commission, the 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 lactic acid produced by a non-genetically modified strain of Weizmannia coagulans (synonym of Bacillus coagulans) (DSM 32789) for all animal species except for fish. The production strain qualifies for the QPS approach for safety assessment. Although uncertainty remains concerning the possible presence of viable cells and/or spores of the production strain in the final product, this does not raise safety concerns for the target species, humans and the environment. The lactic acid is safe at 50,000 mg/kg complete feed for functional ruminants and pigs and at 20,000 mg/kg feed for all the other animal species and categories except for pre-ruminants for which a safe level cannot be established. The corresponding safe levels in water for drinking would be 15,000 mg/L water for pigs and 8,000 mg/L for other non-ruminant species. Although no safe concentration of lactic acid in water for drinking for ruminants can be derived, the Panel considers that the use in water for drinking is safe in ruminants when the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. The use of the additive under assessment in animal nutrition is considered safe for the consumers and for the environment. It is considered corrosive to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Lactic acid is used in food as a preservative. It is reasonable to expect that the effect seen in food will be observed in feed when it is used at comparable concentrations and conditions. However, the FEEDAP Panel has reservations about its effectiveness as a preservative in complete feed with a moisture content of ≤ 12%.

Safety of lactic acid and calcium lactate when used as technological additives for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety lactic acid and calcium lactate for all animal species. In 2015 and in 2017, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Nutrition (FEEDAP) delivered two opinions on the safety of lactic acid and calcium lactate. In that opinion, the panel concluded that the additive is safe for pigs and ruminants at concentrations of 50,000 mg lactic acid/kg complete feed but could not conclude on the safety for poultry and for pre-ruminants. Now the applicant is proposing a new maximum concentration of 20,000 mg lactic acid/kg feed for all other animal species, with the exclusion of pre-ruminants, and provided a new study in chickens for fattening. Based on the results of the new study, the Panel concluded that 20,000 mg lactic acid/kg complete feed is safe for chickens for fattening. The FEEDAP Panel extrapolates the lowest safe level of 20,000 mg lactic acid/kg complete feed observed in chicken for fattening to all animal species other than pigs and ruminants for which 50,000 mg lactic acid/kg is safe, with the exception of pre-ruminants for which a safe dose could not be established. The maximum content of 20,000 mg lactic acid is equivalent to 24,000 mg calcium lactate and 30,000 mg calcium lactate hydrate (hydrate, n = 4-5). The corresponding maximum content in water for drinking would be 8,000 mg lactic acid/L.