The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has just published a positive Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Biomin® BBSH 797 for the application in poultry feed.

Genuine biotransformation

EFSA acknowledged the efficacy of Biomin BBSH 797 in safely biotransforming trichothecenes into non-toxic compounds in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry, as demonstrated in numerous feeding trials.

"In vitro and in vivo studies showed that the inclusion of the additive at the recommended dose of 1.7 x 10⁸ CFU/kg was effective in reducing contaminating DON in feed when given to avian species with a concomitant production of the less toxic de-epoxy metabolite," read the EFSA Opinion.

Beside in vitro and ex vivo studies, the efficacy was proven by in vivo studies in chickens and turkeys for fattening and laying hens. In all three, the inclusion of the additive returned the concentration of DON in excreta to or below the level seen in the uncontaminated control group.

Absolute protection

“This is a promising step in achieving an additional EU authorization for Biomin BBSH 797. Stringent EFSA guidelines set a high bar for additive manufacturers. BIOMIN is the only company that has provided sufficient in vivo data to prove product efficacy and receive EU authorization for mycotoxin deactivation,” stated Ursula Hofstetter, Director Competence Center Mycotoxins at BIOMIN.

EFSA just recently published a positive scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of another Mycofix ingredient —FUMzyme®— for the application in feed for all avian species in November 2016.

The mycotoxin threat

According to recently published scientific findings⁽¹⁾, more than 79% of 1113 feed and raw commodity samples tested contained deoxynivalenol. Deoxynivalenol, a member of the trichothecene family also known as vomitoxin, is a well-known mycotoxin that has been linked to feed refusal, impaired gut health, diarrhea and pasty vents, decreased resistance to environmental and microbial stressors and increased susceptibility to disease.

Proven...