Re-evaluation of benzyl alcohol (E 1519) as food additive

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from fresh leaves of Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L. (cajuput 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 cajuput oil obtained from fresh leaves of Melaleuca cajuputi Maton & Sm. ex R. Powell and Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L., when used as a sensory additive for all animal species. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that cajuput oil is safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed of 30 mg/kg for sows and dogs, 50 mg/kg for horses and ornamental fish, 40 mg/kg for salmon and 5 mg/kg for cats. For the other species, the calculated safe concentrations were 18 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 26 mg/kg for laying hens, 23 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 37 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 31 mg/kg for piglets, 78 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer), 69 mg/kg for cattle for fattening and sheep/goats, 45 mg/kg for dairy cows and 28 mg/kg for rabbits. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive is safe at 5 mg/kg complete feed. The use of cajuput oil in water for drinking was considered safe provided that the total daily intake does not exceed the daily amount considered safe when consumed via feed. No concerns for consumers and the environment were identified following the use of the additive up to the highest safe use level in feed. The essential oil under assessment should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Since cajuput oil was recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.

Cyan Hydrogen Process: A New Route for Simultaneous Hydrogen Production and Carbon Valorization

Hydrogen is expected to largely contribute to the near-future circular economy. Today, most hydrogen is still produced from fossil fuels or renewable pathways with low efficiency and high cost. Herein, a proof of concept for a novel hydrogen production process is proposed, here named cyan hydrogen, inspired by a combination of the green and blue processes, due to the key role played by water and the low carbon content in the gas phase, respectively. The developed novel process, recently patented and demonstrated at the lab scale, is based on successive steps in which ethanol (5.0 mL) and water (10.0 mL) are alternately fed, with a fixed initial amount of sodium metaborate (2.0 g), in a batch reactor at 300 °C. Preliminary results showed the simultaneous production of a 95% v/v hydrogen stream, a polymeric byproduct with a repetitive carbon pattern -CH2-CH2-, and a liquid phase rich in oxygenated chemicals at temperatures lower than conventional hydrogen production processes.

Safety and efficacy of feed additives consisting of essential oils derived from the flower buds or the leaves of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (clove bud oil and clove leaf oils) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of essential oils from the flower buds or the leaves of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry: clove bud oil, clove leaf oil and a β-caryophyllene-rich fraction of clove leaf oil (CCL oil), when used as sensory additives in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. Clove oils contain methyleugenol (up to 0.13%). The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of clove oils was of low concern for long-living and reproductive animals and of no concern for target species for fattening at the following concentrations in complete feed: 25-50 mg/kg for clove bud oil, 28-100 mg/kg for clove leaf oil and 20 mg/kg for CCL oil. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use in water for drinking alone or in conjunction with use in feed should not exceed the daily amount that is considered of low or no concern when consumed via feed alone. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of clove oils up to the highest safe level in feed. The additives under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes and the respiratory tract and as skin sensitisers. When handling the essential oils, exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol may occur. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. The use of clove oils at the proposed use level in feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since clove bud oil and clove leaf oil are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.

Non-Solvent- and Temperature-Induced Phase Separations of Polylaurolactam Solutions in Benzyl Alcohol as Methods for Producing Microfiltration Membranes

The possibility of obtaining porous films through solutions of polylaurolactam (PA12) in benzyl alcohol (BA) was considered. The theoretical calculation of the phase diagram showed the presence of the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) for the PA12/BA system at 157 °C. The PA12 completely dissolved in BA at higher temperatures, but the resulting solutions underwent phase separation upon cooling down to 120–140 °C because of the PA12’s crystallization. The viscosity of the 10–40% PA12 solutions increased according to a power law but remained low and did not exceed 5 Pa·s at 160 °C. Regardless of the concentration, PA12 formed a dispersed phase when its solutions were cooled, which did not allow for the obtention of strong films. On the contrary, the phase separation of the 20–30% PA12 solutions under the action of a non-solvent (isopropanol) leads to the formation of flexible microporous films. The measurement of the porosity, wettability, strength, permeability, and rejection of submicron particles showed the best results for a porous film produced from a 30% solution by non-solvent-induced phase separation. This process makes it possible to obtain a membrane material with a 240 nm particle rejection of 99.6% and a permeate flow of 1.5 kg/m2hbar for contaminated water and 69.9 kg/m2hbar for pure water.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil from the fruit of Cuminum cyminum L. (cumin oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil obtained from the fruit of Cuminum cyminum L. (cumin oil), when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of cumin oil up to the maximum proposed use levels in feed of 15 mg/kg complete feed is considered as safe for all animal species. 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 cumin oil up to the maximum proposed use level in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. When handling the essential oil, exposure of unprotected users to estragole (and dillapiole) cannot be excluded. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. The use of cumin oil at the proposed use level in feed is not expected to pose a risk to the environment. Since C. cyminum and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.

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 feed additives consisting of essential oils from the bark and the leaves of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon 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 essential oils from the bark and the leaves of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil), when used as sensory additives (flavourings) in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. Owing to the presence of styrene in the essential oils under assessment, the FEEDAP Panel is not in the position to conclude on the safety for long-living animals and animals for reproduction. For 'short-living' animals, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil are considered as safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed. For 'short-living' animals, the Panel considered the use of cinnamon bark oil 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. For cinnamon leaf oil, the proposed use level in water for drinking of 3 mg/L is considered as safe for 'short-living' animals. No concerns for consumers were identified following the use of the additives at the use level considered safe in feed for the target species. Based on the presence of safrole ≥0.1%, cinnamon leaf oil and bark oil are classified as carcinogen (category 1B) and handled accordingly. The use of the additives under the proposed conditions in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since C. verum and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for cinnamon essential oils.

Safety of 37 feed additives consisting of flavouring compounds belonging to different chemical groups 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 supplementary information submitted on the safety of 37 compounds belonging to different chemical groups, when used as sensory additives (flavourings) in feed for all animal species formerly assessed by the Panel in the context of the re-evaluation of these feed additives. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that ethyl oleate [09.192] and benzyl cinnamate [09.738] are safe at the proposed use level of 5 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species, the consumer and the environment; ethyl salicylate [09.748] is safe up to the maximum proposed use level of 5 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species and the consumer. No new data were submitted on the safety for the user that would allow the FEEDAP Panel to change its previous conclusion for 26 out of the 37 compounds under assessment. The use of 4-terpinenol [02.072], linalyl butyrate [09.050], linalyl formate [09.080], linalyl propionate [09.130], linalyl isobutyrate [09.423], isopulegol [02.167] and 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(prop-1-enyl)-benzene [04.013] as flavouring additives at the proposed use level of 5 mg/kg in feed for all animal species is considered safe for the environment. The use of 3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one [07.112] at 0.5 mg/kg and methyl dihydrojasmonate [09.520] at 5 mg/kg in feed for all animal species except marine animals is considered safe for the environment.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil from the flowers of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson (ylang ylang 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 the flowers of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson (ylang ylang oil), when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the essential oil under assessment is safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed of 1 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 1.5 mg/kg for laying hens, turkeys for fattening and rabbits, 2 mg/kg for piglets, 2.5 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 3 mg/kg for sows, 4.5 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep, goats and horses, 5 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer), fish, dogs and ornamental fish. For cats, the calculated safe concentration in complete feed is 1 mg/kg feed. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use in water for drinking is 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 consumer safety were identified following the use of the additive up to the maximum proposed use level in feed. The essential oil under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the additive in animal feed under the proposed conditions of use was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Ylang ylang oil is recognised to flavour food. Since its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.

Selective Extraction of Piceatannol from Passiflora edulis by-Products: Application of HSPs Strategy and Inhibition of Neurodegenerative Enzymes

Passiflora edulis by-products (PFBP) are a rich source of polyphenols, of which piceatannol has gained special attention recently. However, there are few studies involving environmentally safe methods for obtaining extracts rich in piceatannol. This work aimed to concentrate piceatannol from defatted PFBP (d-PFBP) by means of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and conventional extraction, using the bio-based solvents selected with the Hansen solubility parameters approach. The relative energy distance (Ra) between solvent and solute was: Benzyl Alcohol (BnOH) < Ethyl Acetate (EtOAc) < Ethanol (EtOH) < EtOH:H₂O. Nonetheless, EtOH presented the best selectivity for piceatannol. Multi-cycle PLE at 110 °C was able to concentrate piceatannol 2.4 times more than conventional extraction. PLE exhibited a dependence on kinetic parameters and temperature, which could be associated with hydrogen bonding forces and the dielectric constant of the solvents. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and lipoxygenase (LOX) IC₅₀ were 29.420 μg/mL and 27.682 μg/mL, respectively. The results reinforce the demand for processes to concentrate natural extracts from food by-products.