EFSA FEEDAP — betaine anhydrous (3a920) — renewal of authorisation
Source: EFSA FEEDAP scientific opinion, EFSA Journal 2026;24(4):e10071 (DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10071), retrieved 2026-08-06 via Europe PMC OA full-text XML. Paraphrase of an EFSA opinion that the source XML tags CC-BY-ND; per project COPYRIGHT_POLICY only facts/numbers/proper-nouns are quoted verbatim, sentences rewritten.
Editorial context (read this before using the data point)
This is the EFSA FEEDAP jurisdiction on the nutrient/additive betaine anhydrous (3a920) — one of four nutrient-safety opinions in this batch (Task L). Read with the efsa nutrient endpoints and AAFCO/FEDIAF provisions for the same nutrient.
Key findings (paraphrase; numbers and proper nouns verbatim from source)
- This is a renewal-of-authorisation assessment of betaine anhydrous (3a920).
- The solid form in animal nutrition remains safe for target species, consumers and the environment under the current authorised conditions.
- The applicant proposed lowering the liquid form's betaine content from 47% to 38%; this amendment does not affect safety provided recommended supplemental levels are not exceeded, so the liquid form also remains safe for target species, consumers and environment.
- User safety: due to lack of data the Panel cannot conclude on the safety of the additive for users.
Pet-food relevance
Betaine is an osmolyte/methyl donor relevant to cat and dog diets (often used to spare methionine and support hepatic function). The confirmed 'remains safe' conclusion under authorised conditions is the usable takeaway; the user-safety data gap is the honest residual uncertainty.
Scope note / honest gap
Paraphrase of an EFSA opinion; source XML licence tag was CC-BY-ND, so this topic quotes only data points verbatim and rewrites prose. This is a renewal opinion (efficacy not re-assessed); full characterisation and tolerance statistics are not reproduced.