Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of synthetic alpha-tocopherol for all animal species

The additive synthetic alpha-tocopherol consists of pure all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. In a previous opinion on the safety and efficacy of vitamin E for all animal species, the FEEDAP Panel assessed the safety of the acetate ester of the additive for all animal species, the consumer, the user and the environment. The FEEDAP Panel is not aware of any more recent scientific findings that would modify its previous conclusions. The FEEDAP Panel extended the conclusions drawn in its opinion on the safety of vitamin E (including all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) to all-rac-alpha-tocopherol. All-rac-alpha-tocopherol at use levels is safe for all animal species and the consumer. No concerns for user safety are expected from the use of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol in feed. The use of all-rac-alpha-tocopherol in animal nutrition will not result in a substantial increase in concentration in the environment. Since all-rac-alpha-tocopherol is used as antioxidant in food and its function in feed is essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is necessary.