On March 07th, 2022, the European Food Safety Authority published an article on the “Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sodium alginate for all animal species” in accordance with the principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 429/2008.
The scope of the document highlights the following:
- Sodium alginate is a high‐molecular‐weight polymer naturally occurring in brown algae;
- Intended to be used as a technological additive such as thickeners and gelling agents;
- The additive is intended for use in feeding stuffs for all animal species at a proposed minimum concentration of 2,000 mg/kg feed;
- The maximum concentration limit is set at 30,000 mg/kg feed;
- Sodium alginate is hazardous by inhalation and is not irritant to the skin but should be considered as an irritant to the eye and respiratory system;
- The use of sodium alginate in animal nutrition is considered safe for consumers and the environment;
- The safety of sodium alginate for the target species or on its efficacy as a thickener or gelling agent in feed could not be concluded.
To view the complete safety assessment report, check out the Food News Monitoring System.