欧盟评估薄荷酊剂作为所有动物饲料添加剂的安全性和有效性

 　　  2025年7月30日，据欧盟食品安全局（EFSA）消息，应欧盟委员会要求，欧盟动物饲料添加剂和产品（FEEDAP）研究小组就薄荷酊剂（a tincture derived from the leaves or the aerial parts of Mentha × piperita L. ）作为所有动物饲料添加剂的安全性和有效性发表科学意见。 
　　经过评估，专家小组认为该酊剂在建议的使用条件下对目标物种、消费者和环境是安全的。由于薄荷叶具有调味特性，其在饲料中的功能与在食品中的功能基本相同，因此认为没有必要进一步证明其功效。部分原文报道如下：
 
　　Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the leaves or aerial parts of Mentha × piperita L. (peppermint tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 1.85%. Peppermint tincture contains on average 0.095% (w/w) total polyphenols (of which 0.0247% are flavonoids). The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of peppermint tincture is safe at the proposed use level of 500 mg/kg complete feed for ornamental fish. For the other species the calculated safe concentrations in complete feed are: 64 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 95 mg/kg for laying hens, 86 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 138 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 115 mg/kg for piglets, 168 mg/kg for sows, 287 mg/kg for veal calves, 253 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep/goats and horses, 164 mg/kg for dairy cows, 101 mg/kg for rabbits, 289 mg/kg for salmonids, 303 mg/kg for dogs and 253 mg/kg for cats. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive is safe at 64 mg/kg complete feed. The use of peppermint tincture at the proposed conditions of use is considered safe for the consumers and the environment. Regarding user safety, the additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Any exposure is considered a risk. Since the leaves of Mentha × piperita L. are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was necessary.