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Hello, my name is Claudia.
I’m a scientist working at EFSA.
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My work involves assessing
the safety of animal feed.
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Today, I’m here to talk about
animal feed and why feed safety is
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important for animals,
humans, and the environment.
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First of all, let me explain
why feed safety is important.
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The health of animals is
an obvious reason.
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When humans eat, we expect
our food to be safe.
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We also expect the same for animals.
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This applies to food-producing animals
like cows, pigs, poultry, fish and game.
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But it also includes
our pets like dogs, cats and birds.
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Feed safety is also important
for human health.
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People eat many foods
derived from animals
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including meat, eggs,
milk and dairy products.
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This also includes workers who handle
or are exposed to feed,
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for example on the farm
or at the factory.
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Environmental protection is a factor too.
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Feed additives are often used
in intensive farming
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on a large scale and may
leak into water or soil.
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But, what hazards might be in feed?
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Feed includes fodder - such
as hay, straw, silage,
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oils and grains – and manufactured feed
products that may contain additives.
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In modern farming, many products
are used in animal
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nutrition as additives,
for example to enhance
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flavour or to aid digestion.
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However, feed additives
may contain chemicals
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– natural and artificial – or micro-organisms.
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Sometimes traces or “residues” of
chemicals used in feed
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can be found in food
derived from animals.
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These residues are usually
harmless or present in such low levels
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that they are not a safety
concern for consumers.
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In some cases they could be harmful
if our exposure to them is too high.
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Also, some micro-organisms
can produce harmful toxins or become
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resistant to antimicrobials, such as
antibiotics, rendering treatment ineffective.
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These too may pose a
serious risk to public health.
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Also, some feed might be
contaminated during transport or
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handling or through the presence
in the environment of hazardous substances.
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These can be natural
like mycotoxins,
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which are produced by wild mushrooms
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or man-made like
dioxins, an industrial pollutant.
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So, how do we evaluate feed safety?
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In the European Union,
EU law requires that all feed additives
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are evaluated for safety
and assessed for
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risks to humans,
animals and the environment.
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Manufacturers are required to submit
scientific information
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that proves there is no likelihood
of any safety concerns related to their use.
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Scientists consider all the
available information so
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they can recommend safe levels
of use of feed additives.
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They also provide scientific advice
based on the levels
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of contaminants that might
be present in feed.
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These recommendations help
to inform decision-makers
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