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 safety and efficacy of methionine-zinc, technically pure (Met-Zinc) as compound of trace element for all species, and as amino acid for ruminants.
Based on published literature, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that additive Met-Zinc is safe for all animal species/categories considering that its use in feed is first limited by the regulatory maximum content of zinc. However, its contribution to dietary methionine needs consideration when formulating diets.
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Methionine from Met-Zinc would be incorporated into animal tissues and products, showing a constant amino acid pattern. Zinc from this feed additive would not lead to higher zinc deposition in tissues/products, and hence consumer exposure, than zinc from other authorised zinc sources. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that the use of Met-Zinc in animal nutrition is safe for consumers when used up to the maximum authorised level of zinc.
In the absence of data, the compound should be considered as a potential irritant to skin and eye and a skin sensitiser. Zinc compounds are hazardous by inhalation; Met-Zinc shows a high dusting potential, thus exposure by inhalation represents a hazard to persons handling the additive.
In studies comparing bioavailability of zinc from Met-Zinc and from zinc oxide, a higher digestibility and body retention of zinc from Met-Zinc in piglets and equivalent responses in plasma and tissue level of zinc in chickens for fattening fed diets were shown; consequently the additive Met-Zinc is considered an efficacious source of zinc for all animal species/categories.
Wednesday January 23, 2013/ EFSA/ European Union.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu