Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of potassium sorbate for dogs and cats
Published:
Adopted:
Meta data
Keywords
Potassium sorbate, technological additive, preservative, semi-moist feed, dogs, cats
On request from
European Commission
Question Number
EFSA-Q-2011-00836
Panel members at the time of adoption
Gabriele Aquilina, Georges Bories, Andrew Chesson, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Joop de Knecht, Noël Albert Dierick, Mikolaj Antoni Gralak, Jürgen Gropp, Ingrid Halle, Christer Hogstrand, Lubomir Leng, Secundino López Puente, Anne-Katrine Lundebye Haldorsen, Alberto Mantovani, Giovanna Martelli, Miklós Mézes, Derek Renshaw, Maria Saarela, Kristen Sejrsen and Johannes Westendorf
Contact
Abstract
The feed additive consists of pure potassium sorbate and it is intended to be used as a preservative in semi-moist feed for dogs and cats at a proposed concentration of 5 000 mg/kg feed. Potassium sorbate is considered safe for both dogs and cats at a maximum content of 5 000 mg/kg semi-moist complete feed, based on the limited data available in public literature. Potassium sorbate is a skin and eye irritant and a potential irritant of the respiratory tract. Potassium sorbate is added to food with a wide range of moisture content as preservative. Similar preservative effects can be expected in semi-moist feed for dogs and cats.
© European Food Safety Authority, 2012