The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that locust bean gum is safe for cats at up to 20,000 mg/kg complete feed, dogs at 1,320 mg/kg, pigs at 500–729 mg/kg and poultry at 278–415 mg/kg, according to a scientific opinion adopted on 30 June 2026 and published on 24 July 2026. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) also found the additive irritant to skin and eyes and a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser, and could not confirm its efficacy as a gelling agent, thickener or stabiliser in complex feed matrices or low-moisture feeds.
The opinion follows a request from the European Commission for a re-evaluation of locust bean gum as a technological additive for cats, dogs, pigs and poultry, submitted by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). In a previous opinion of 29 June 2022, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on safety for target species or users, nor on efficacy as an emulsifier. The applicant subsequently withdrew the emulsifier claim and limited the scope to the four species, providing supplementary data including tolerance studies in dogs and cats. The Panel calculated safe concentrations using a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 2,500 mg/kg body weight per day from a rat carcinogenicity study, applying an uncertainty factor of 100. Tolerance trials in dogs at up to 50,000 mg/kg feed showed dose-dependent reductions in body weight and changes in blood parameters, but the Panel considered the additive safe at the calculated lower levels. For cats, a tolerance study at 25,000 mg/kg feed showed no adverse effects, supporting safety at 20,000 mg/kg. The additive is intended for use as a gelling agent, thickener and stabiliser in high-moisture matrices, but the Panel could not conclude on its efficacy alone or with other hydrocolloids in complex pet food or low-moisture feeds. The opinion will inform the Commission's decision on re-authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.