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)

Abstract

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.

Risk Assessment of Combined Exposure to Multiple Chemicals at the European Food Safety Authority: Principles, Guidance Documents, Applications and Future Challenges

“…Pers. [ 91 ], cinnamon tincture from the bark of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl [ 92 ], camphor white oil from Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl [ 93 ], buchu leaf oil from the leaves of Agathosma betulina (P.J. Bergius) Pillans [ 94 ], ylang ylang oil from the flowers of Cananga odorata (Lam.)…”

A Computational Inter-Species Study on Safrole Phase I Metabolism-Dependent Bioactivation: A Mechanistic Insight into the Study of Possible Differences among Species

“…The use of safrole as a food or feed additive is no longer allowed in many countries due to its documented toxicity (e.g., its use has been banned in the US since the 1960s). However, it is still present in food and feed due to its abundance in spices, herbs and essential oils used as ingredients, giving rise to multiple safety issues [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Safrole has been found in a variety of food products including cola-tasting beverages and Bologna and Vienna sausages to cite but a few, and it can also be found in plant-based foods, food supplements and feed/food products with safrole-containing essential oils added as ingredients [ 2 , 6 , 9 , 10 ].…”