Safety of lactic acid and calcium lactate when used as technological additives for all animal species

The additives under assessment are lactic acid and calcium lactate. In 2015, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) delivered an Opinion on the safety and efficacy of lactic acid and calcium lactate. The FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of lactic acid in pre-ruminants and poultry. Following this opinion, the European Commission gave the possibility to the applicant to submit complementary information in order to complete the assessment on the safety for all animal species. Based on the studies submitted in chickens for fattening and laying hens, no safe concentration of lactic acid and calcium lactate in complete feed for these species could be identified. Owing to the absence of data on tolerated dietary levels of D-lactic acid, no conclusion on the safety of lactic acid in milk replacer for pre-ruminants is possible. Since a safe concentration of lactic acid (and calcium lactate) was established only for pigs and cattle, and not for a third major animal species, no extrapolation to any other species is possible.