Safety and efficacy of eight compounds belonging to different chemical groups when used as flavourings for cats and dogs.

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 23 compounds belonging to different chemical groups. This opinion concerns eight out of the 23 compounds, which are currently authorised for use as flavours in food. The Panel concludes that the eight additives are safe for cats and dogs at the proposed use level: phenylmethanethiol [12.005] and benzyl methyl sulfide [12.077] at 0.05 mg/kg complete feed; 2‐pentylthiophene [15.096] at 0.1 mg/kg complete feed; tridec‐2‐enal [05.078] and 12‐methyltridecanal [05.169] at 0.5 mg/kg complete feed; 2,5‐dimethylphenol [04.019] at the 1 mg/kg complete feed; hexa‐2(trans),4(trans)‐dienal [05.057] at 1.5 mg/kg complete feed; 2‐ethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐3(2H)‐furanone [13.084] at 2.25 mg/kg complete feed. In the absence of studies to assess the safety for the user, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety for the users when handling the additives. Since all eight compounds are used in food as flavourings, and their function in feed is essentially the same as that in food no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.