Safety and efficacy of vermiculite as a feed additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses.
Abstract: 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 vermiculite as a feed additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses. Vermiculite, which is a magnesium aluminium iron silicate, is intended for use as a technological additive (functional groups: binders and anticaking agents) in premixtures and feedingstuffs for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses, with no proposed minimum or maximum concentration. The applicant reported a maximum inclusion level, derived from the use of the additive in premixtures of preservatives, of about 50,000 mg/kg complete feed, and suggested typical inclusion levels in complete feedingstuffs below 10,000 mg/kg. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of vermiculite for the target species and the users. The additive is considered safe for the consumer and the environment at the proposed conditions of use. In the absence of data, the Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of vermiculite as a pellet binder or as an anticaking agent.
© 2020 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.
Publication Date: 2020-06-30 PubMed ID: 32874335PubMed Central: PMC7448076DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6160Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article analyzes the safety and effectiveness of vermiculite, a type of silicate mineral, as a feed additive for different species of animals. The European Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed had inconclusive results about its safety for animals and users, but suggested it’s likely safe for consumers and the environment.
Introduction
- This study was prompted by a request from the European Commission, answered by the European Panel on Additives and Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP).
- The goal of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of vermiculite, a magnesium aluminium iron silicate, as a feed additive for several species of animals, namely pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits, and horses.
Vermiculite as a Technological Additive
- Vermiculite is proposed to be used as a technological additive in animal feed, specifically as a binder and anticaking agent. These types of additives are used to improve the physical qualities of the feed or premixtures.
- There’s no proposed minimum or maximum concentration for the inclusion of vermiculite in the animal feed. However, the research article undertakes analysis based on a typical inclusion level of less than 10,000 mg/kg in complete feedingstuffs, and a maximum inclusion level derived from the use in premixtures of about 50,000 mg/kg complete feed.
Safety Assessment
- The safety of vermiculite was examined for two main subject groups: the target animal species (those who would be directly consuming the feed with the additive), and the users (those who would be handling the additive and the feed).
- The FEEDAP panel couldn’t reach a clear conclusion regarding the safety of vermiculite for these two groups. The reasons for this aren’t specified in the abstract.
Impact on Consumers and Environment
- Despite the uncertainty around its safety for animals and handlers, the additive was considered safe for both the consumer (those who would be consuming products from these animals) and the environment.
- Again, the details on how this conclusion was reached aren’t present in the abstract, but it implies that there’s no significant risk posed by vermiculite to humans or to the flora and fauna surrounding the areas where it would be used.
Efficacy of Vermiculite
- The research also sought to examine the efficacy of vermiculite as an additive, particularly in its roles as a pellet binder and anticaking agent.
- Judging by the information available in the abstract, the panel was unable to draw firm conclusions about vermiculite’s efficacy in these roles.
Cite This Article
APA
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Kos Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M, Ramos F, Sanz Y, Villa RE, Woutersen R, Bories G, Gropp J, Nebbia C, Innocenti ML, Aquilina G.
(2020).
Safety and efficacy of vermiculite as a feed additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses.
EFSA J, 18(6), e06160.
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6160 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
References
This article includes 11 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Chen H, Jog MA, Turkevich LA. Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of Aerosol Behavior in a High Speed (Heubach) Rotating Drum Dustiness Tester. Particuology 2023 Jan;72:68-80.
- Sherimova SK, Sarsembayeva NB, Abdigaliyeva TB, Lozowicka B. Vermikom feed additive effects on dairy cows' blood and milk parameters. Vet World 2022 May;15(5):1228-1236.
- Sarsembayeva N, Ikramzhan G, Abdigaliyeva T, Kirkimbaeva Z, Biyashev B, Sherimova S, Ibragimov P. Enhancing the nutritional profile of African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) through dietary supplementation with natural minerals and probiotic Escherichia coli 39-SN. Vet World 2025 Jun;18(6):1517-1526.
- Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, Christensen H, Durjava M, Dusemund B, Gehring R, Glandorf B, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, Marcon F, Nebbia C, Pechová A, Prieto-Maradona M, Röhe I, Theodoridou K, Puente SL, Galobart J, Vettori MV, Holczknecht O, Pizzo F, Innocenti ML, Ortuño J, Valeri P. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of vermiculite for all poultry and ornamental birds, all porcine species, equines, leporids, camelids, pets and other non-food-producing animals (Regal B.V.). EFSA J 2025 May;23(5):e9362.
- Apdraim G, Sarsembayeva N, Lozowicka B. Effect of vermiculite feed additive on the chemical, mineral, and amino acid compositions of quail meat. Vet World 2023 Dec;16(12):2431-2439.
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