The Safety of Clary Sage Oil in Animal Feed: What You Need to Know

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently looked into the safety and usefulness of clary sage oil in animal feed. This essential oil comes from the flowering stems of a plant called 'Salvia sclarea'. They found it's generally safe to use in feed for various animals, with different safe limits for each species. For example, it's safe up to 15 mg/kg in feed for veal calves and cattle, but only 4 mg/kg for cats. It's also safe to mix this oil in drinking water, as long as the total daily intake doesn't exceed the safe limit set for feed.

The panel also checked if the oil is safe for consumers and the environment. Good news: it is! However, they warned that the oil can irritate skin and eyes, and may cause sensitivity when touched or inhaled. Since this oil is already used to flavor food, they didn't need extra proof of its effectiveness in feed.

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