Re-evaluation of acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, mono- and diacetyltartaric acid, mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472a-f) as food additives

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%.

Bioaugmented Mixed Culture by Clostridium aceticum to Manipulate Volatile Fatty Acids Composition From the Fermentation of Cheese Production Wastewater

Production of targeted volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition by fermentation is a promising approach for upstream and post-stream VFA applications. In the current study, the bioaugmented mixed microbial culture by Clostridium aceticum was used to produce an acetic acid dominant VFA mixture. For this purpose, anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (bioaugmented and control) were operated under pH 10 and fed by cheese processing wastewater. The efficiency and stability of the bioaugmentation strategy were monitored using the production and composition of VFA, the quantity of C. aceticum (by qPCR), and bacterial community profile (16S rRNA Illumina Sequencing). The bioaugmented mixed culture significantly increased acetic acid concentration in the VFA mixture (from 1170 ± 18 to 122 ± 9 mgCOD/L) compared to the control reactor. Furthermore, the total VFA production (from 1254 ± 11 to 5493 ± 36 mgCOD/L) was also enhanced. Nevertheless, the bioaugmentation could not shift the propionic acid dominancy in the VFA mixture. The most significant effect of bioaugmentation on the bacterial community profile was seen in the relative abundance of the Thermoanaerobacterales Family III. Incertae sedis, its relative abundance increased simultaneously with the gene copy number of C. aceticum during bioaugmentation. These results suggest that there might be a syntropy between species of Thermoanaerobacterales Family III. Incertae sedis and C. aceticum. The cycle analysis showed that 6 h (instead of 24 h) was adequate retention time to achieve the same acetic acid and total VFA production efficiency. Biobased acetic acid production is widely applicable and economically competitive with petroleum-based production, and this study has the potential to enable a new approach as produced acetic acid dominant VFA can replace external carbon sources for different processes (such as denitrification) in WWTPs. In this way, the higher treatment efficiency for WWTPs can be obtained by recovered substrate from the waste streams that promote a circular economy approach.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of acetic acid for all animal species

In 2012, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) issued an opinion on the safety and efficacy of acetic acid when used as a technological additive (preservative) for all animal species. The characterisation and condition of use of the additive are the same as those already assessed by the FEEDAP Panel in the previous opinion on acetic acid. Acetic acid produced with the new manufacturing process complies with the specifications set by Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the conclusions reached in the previous assessment apply to the acetic acid produced by the new manufacturing process. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the additive is considered safe for poultry, pigs and pet animals at a maximum concentration of 2.5 g acetic acid/kg complete feed (or 1 g/L water for drinking). The known high endogenous production of acetic acid in the ruminants shows that the tolerance of these target animals is considerably higher. No data is available for salmonids. The use of the additive in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety. The risks for users handling the additive depend on the concentration and include skin, eyes, and respiratory tract irritation (10-25% solution) and corrosion (> 25% solution). The use of the additive as a feed additive is considered safe for the environment. The Panel concluded that the additive has a potential to be efficacious as preservative in feedingstuffs and water for drinking. The FEEDAP Panel has some reservations about the effectiveness of acetic acid as preservative in dry feedingstuffs with a typical moisture content of ≤ 12%.