Abstract
The chemical group 27 defined as ‘anthranilate derivatives’ consists of two flavouring substances: methyl anthranilate and methyl‐N‐methylanthranilate. Both compounds are currently authorised for use as flavours in food, and are naturally found in various fruits and plants. The use of methyl anthranilate and methyl‐N‐methylanthranilate in avian species was found contra‐indicated. The applicant's proposed use levels of 5 to 25 mg methylanthranilate/kg complete feed are safe in the other species with a margin of safety up to three. For methyl‐N‐methylanthranilate, the proposed upper use level of 5 mg/kg feed is not safe for piglets, therefore the highest feed concentration safe for all animals species other than avian species is 4 mg/kg complete feed. Considering the absent or very low margin of safety, the simultaneous administration of either substance in feed and water for drinking, and the simultaneous use of both compounds are not considered safe without a proportional reduction in their concentration. No residues of safety concern derived from methylanthranilic acid and methyl‐N‐methylanthranilic are to be expected in animal tissues or products. Consequently, the use of these two compounds in animal nutrition would not increase consumer exposure resulting from natural occurrence and food use. No data relevant to an assessment of user safety was made available. The applicant considers that both substances are irritants to the respiratory system, the eyes and the skin. The use of the anthranilate derivatives in animal nutrition is not expected to have a significant impact on the environment. Since the function of both compounds in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.
Keywords: Sensory additives, flavourings, anthranilate derivatives, chemical group 27, methyl anthranilate, methyl‐N‐methylanthranilate
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) ; Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of anthranilate derivatives (chemical group 27) when used as flavourings for all animal species. EFSA Journal 2011;9(12):2441. [13 pp.]. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2441.
Panel members: Gabriele Aquilina, Georges Bories, Andrew Chesson, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Joop de Knecht, Noël Albert Dierick, Mikolaj Antoni Gralak, Jürgen Gropp, Ingrid Halle, Christer Hogstrand, Reinhard Kroker, Lubomir Leng, Secundino López Puente, Anne‐Katrine Lundebye Haldorsen, Alberto Mantovani, Giovanna Martelli, Miklós Mézes, Derek Renshaw, Maria Saarela, Kristen Sejrsen and Johannes Westendorf
Correspondence: feedap@efsa.europa.eu
Acknowledgement: The Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on Feed Flavourings including Paul Brantom, Joaquim Brufau, Gérard Pascal and Guido Rychen for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion.
Adoption date: 15 November 2011
Published date: 2 December 2011
Question number: EFSA‐Q‐2010‐00990
On request from: European Commission
References
- EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) , 2008. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (CEF) on Flavouring Group Evaluation 84 (FGE 84). Consideration of Anthranilate derivatives evaluated by JECFA (65th meeting). The EFSA Journal, 856, 1–24. [Google Scholar]
- Foster TS and Khan SU, 1976. Metabolism of atrazine by the chicken. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 24, 566–570. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Foster TS, Khan SU and Akhtar MH, 1980. Metabolism of deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, and hydroxyatrazine by the soluble fraction (10500 g) from goose liver homogenates. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 28, 1083–1085. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1968. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Report: WHO Technical Report Series, no. 383.
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1980a. Evaluation of certain food additives. Twenty‐third report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 648, Geneva. [PubMed]
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 1980b. Toxicological evaluation of certain food additives. Twenty‐third Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Toxicological monographs WHO Food Additives, No 14.
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 2006a. Evaluation of certain food additives. Sixty‐fifth report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 934. Geneva, 7–16 June 2005.
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 2006b. Combined Compendium of food additive specifications ‐ Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives ‐ All specifications monographs from the 1st to the 65th meeting (1956–2005).
- JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) , 2006c. Safety evaluation of certain food additives. Sixty‐fifth meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Food additive series (FAS)56.
- Kameya T, Mutayama T, Kitano M and Urano K, 1995. Testing and classification methods for the biodegradabilities of organic compounds under anaerobic conditions. The Science of the Total Environment, 170, 31–41. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kirifides ML, Kurnellas MP, Clark L and Bryant BP, 2004. Calcium responses of chicken trigeminal ganglion neurons to methyl anthranilate and capsaicin. Journal of Experimental Biology, 207, 715–722. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lu GH, Zhao YH, Yang SG and Cheng XJ, 2002. Quantitative structure‐biodegradability relationships of substituted benzenes and their biodegradability in river water. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 69, 111–116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mulla MS, Mian LS and Kawecki JA, 1981. Distribution, transport, and fate of the insecticides malathion and parathion in the environment. Residue Reviews, 81, 1–159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Müller‐Schwartze D, 2009. Sour Grapes: Methyl Antranilate as Feeding Repellent for Birds. In: Hands‐On Chemical Ecology: Simple Fields and Laboratory Exercices, Part I, 13–17, Springer Science+Business Media, LCC 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Zhao YH, Ji GD, Cronin MTD and Dearden, 1998. QSAR study of the toxicity of benzoic acids to Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna and carp. The Science of the Total Environment, 216, 205–215. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]