EFSA FEEDAP — consumer safety of selenium feed additives
Source: EFSA FEEDAP scientific opinion, EFSA Journal 2024;22(6):8857 (DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8857), 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 consumer safety of feed additives containing selenium — relevant to pet foods supplemented with organic selenium (e.g., yeast-derived Se). Read with the efsa nutrient/contaminant endpoints and AAFCO/FEDIAF selenium maxima.
Key findings (paraphrase; numbers and proper nouns verbatim from source)
- The Panel concludes that use of organic selenium at the currently maximum authorised use level of 0.2 mg supplemented selenium from organic sources/kg complete feed (within a maximum of 0.5 mg total selenium/kg complete feed) leads to an exceedance of the UL for all population categories except elderly and very elderly, suggesting a concern for consumer safety.
- It is not possible to conclude on the safety of the currently maximum authorised use level of 0.5 mg total selenium/kg complete feed for all consumer categories.
- Additional data from studies specifically designed to measure deposition of selenium in tissues and products of animal origin from the different selenium sources would be required for a proper risk assessment.
Pet-food relevance
Pet foods (especially those making selenium claims or using organic selenium) should be aware that EFSA flags the 0.2 mg organic-Se/kg authorised level as exceeding the consumer UL for most age groups. Cross-ref the existing efsa selenium/nutrient endpoints.
Scope note / honest gap
Paraphrase of an EFSA opinion; full deposition modelling is not reproduced. Source XML licence tag was CC-BY-ND, so this topic quotes only data points verbatim and rewrites prose.