AGRICULTURE
Organic acids grow on the farm Livestock farmers adopt the additives as replacements for growth-promoting antibiotics With antibiotics increasingly being shunned as growth promoters, chemical makers are investing in short-chain organic acids as a new way to help farmers increase meat production without contributing to antibiotic resistance. The specialty chemical company Oxea just completed an expansion of its plant in Oberhausen, Germany, that boosts output of short-chain organic acids such as propionic acid, butyric acid, and isobutyric acid. Last month, Sweden’s Perstorp launched production of valeric acid, which it says is the first new organic acid for animal nutrition in decades. Also last month, the French industrial biotech firm Metabolic Explorer said it plans to invest in a facility that makes butyric acid via fermentation. All three companies are responding to rising farmer interest in organic acids and
their derivatives as components of animal feed free of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Europe, the largest market for the organic acids, banned AGPs in 2006. The U.S. FDA restricted use on Jan. 1 of this year, but antibiotics can still be found in animal diets in Asia. “Demand for the required salts and esters of butyric acids and propionic acid, in particular in Asia and the Americas, to manufacture AGP-free animal feed is growing significantly,” says Christoph Balzarek, director of Oxea’s carboxylic acids business. Experts believe antibiotics promote animal growth by suppressing bacteria that consume nutrients in the gastrointestinal tracts of their hosts. But overuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant—a danger to both animal and human populations.
Organic acids promote growth without creating antibiotic resistance. Farmers have added organic acids to animal feed for decades to reduce bacteria growth and mold. When fed to animals in larger quantities, the acids disrupt the metabolic processes of gut bacteria without the risk of resistance, according to Fefana, a European feed ingredients association. European pig farmers started adopting organic acids after the 2006 antibiotic ban. More recently, the acids have been added to poultry and aquaculture feed. Global sales of organic acids for animal feed exceed $1 billion per year, Fefana says. The group projects demand will continue growing at 4.5% annually. Metabolic Explorer contends that demand for butyric acid is growing particularly fast, expanding by 250% since 2010.—MICHAEL MCCOY
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Consumer product additives examined
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
Transparency and innovation motivate initiatives at SC Johnson and Environmental Defense Fund Consumer products maker SC Johnson and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an advocacy group, have separately undertaken initiatives seeking to limit consumer exposure to potentially harmful additives in consumer products. SC Johnson, the maker of cleaners such as Fantastik and Scrubbing Bubbles, has disclosed on its website 368 potential skin allergens that may be present in its products. By 2018, the website, WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com, will also list which skin allergens are contained in specific products. All cleaning products contain potential allergens, the company says. But to reduce the likelihood that sensitive individuals could develop skin redness or a rash, the firm decided to “give families the whole story.” The list, which an expert panel reviewed, includes both natural and synthetic skin allergens. “In many cases, naturals can have
11 can cause eye irritation, and 12 are toxic to aquatic organisms. Preservatives it studied include benzyl alcohol, caprylyl glycol, more skin allergens than synthetics,” SC methylisothiazolinone, and propylparaben. Johnson says. In 2015, the firm revealed The group’s report, “Smart Innovation: fragrances found in its products to allay The Opportunity for Safer Preservatives,” toxicity fears. calls for the development of preservatives Consumer product firms are being with reduced impact on human health and pushed to better disclose the environment. “Too ingredients in household few [companies] strive and personal care prodtowards innovation that Among the 368 potential skin is safer for people and the ucts. Retailers Target and allergens that SC Johnson Walmart, for instance, planet,” the group says. says may be in its household have pressured suppliers EDF is also calling on ingredient transparen- cleaning products are for the creation of an ▸ Ammonium persulfate cy and insisted that many independent chemical products be reformulated ▸ Cinnamon leaf oil assessment clearinghouse ▸ Formaldehyde to remove problematic “that would provide ▸ Hibiscus abelmoschus seed oil comprehensive, strucpreservatives such as ▸ Menthol parabens and formaldetured, transparent, and ▸ Methylchloroisothiazolinone hyde donors. comparable health and ▸ Pepper oil EDF reviewed 16 widesafety assessments of ly used cosmetic preserva- ▸ Rosewood oil chemicals in a centralized, ▸ Toluene diisocyanate tives and concluded that web-accessible reposi▸ Turpentine half are skin sensitizers, tory.”—MARC REISCH
Caution
JUNE 5, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
11
