FDA Proposal To Allow Hemp Seed Meal As Food For Egg-Laying Hens Is Approved

An organization of livestock feed control officials has voted to allow commercial farmers to begin using hemp seed meal as food for egg-laying hens. Under the new policy, which was recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hemp meal can account for up to 20 percent of hens’ diet.

At an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) general meeting last week, 48 states voted to approve a new tentative definition for hemp seed meal (HSM) that will allow its use as a source of protein and fat for hens. AAFCO is the national oversight body for new feed approval. Two other states abstained.

“With this approval, the tentative definition will be adopted into the Official Publication later this year, and allowable for commercial use immediately,” said the Hemp Feed Coalition, a nonprofit that supports the use of hemp as livestock feed. The group called the AAFCO vote a “landmark achievement” and “historic milestone” that’s been years in the making.

“This hemp grain derivative is a highly nutritious ingredient with a wide range of essential vitamins, minerals, healthy oils, and a complete protein profile,” the coalition said in a news release. “Research confirms the nutrition profile and functionality of hemp feed resembles that of soy and canola, while alleviating concerns about its suitability as an ingredient. Evidence also shows increased value over typical feed sources, with significant improvement in egg quality as HSM concentration increases in the hen’s diet.”

The change was recommended by FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. In January, AAFCO’s ingredient definition committee gave initial approval to the new definition.

As approved last week, the definition will require hemp feed contain no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) total CBD and no more than 2 ppm THC.

The Hemp Feed Coalition’s release notes that FDA’s review process into the viability and safety of hemp feed “verified that any potential cannabinoid contaminants did not transfer over to human food product.”

Official publication of the definition by AAFCO, expected later this year, will be the final step in the complicated process of allowing hemp seed as feed for commercial hens.

The tentative definition approved at the meeting reads as follows:

“New Tentative Definition T71.5 Hemp Seed Meal, Mechanical Extracted is the product obtained by grinding or milling the cake, which remains after most of the oil is removed from the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. by a mechanical extraction process. The ingredient must be labeled with guarantees for minimum crude protein and maximum crude fat on an as-fed basis. The meal shall contain no more than 20 ppm of total cannabidiol (Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA x 0.877)) and no more than 2 ppm of total tetrahydrocannabinol (Total THC = delta-9-THC + (THCA x 0.877)). It is used in diets of laying hens as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion of no more than 20% of the diet.”

The addition of hemp as an approved livestock feed is a reassurance to farmers who might want to grow hemp as part of their agricultural production, said Andrew Bish, president of the Hemp Feed Coalition. The plant also requires lower inputs than many other crops, making it a more sustainable option.

“Hemp’s integration into animal feed is a catalyst for agricultural advancement. It’s an opportunity for farmers to diversify with lower risk for supply chains to become more sustainable, and for the entire agricultural community to reap the benefits of this versatile crop,” Bish said in a statement.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a trade group, said in an email to supporters that the AAFCO vote “is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Hemp Feed Coalition and its partners.” It called the development “a major victory for the hemp industry.”

“Hemp provides a crop rotation option with lower input needs, enhancing soil health and disease control,” the message said. “It promotes agricultural sustainability and supply chain flexibility, benefiting the entire agricultural community. Hemp is also incredibly nutritious for the hens, offering essential vitamins, minerals, and a complete protein profile, thereby improving egg quality.”

Since hemp’s legalization federally under the 2018 Farm Bill, there’s been a renewed interest in utilizing the plant for nutrition, fiber and even intoxicating cannabinoids. As part of that, some have eyed hemp seed meal as an attractive option for livestock.

Last November, for example, New York lawmakers sent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) a bill that would have legalized hemp seed as a feed ingredient for horses, llamas and household pets, though the governor ultimately vetoed the measure, citing lack of safety information on the practice.

The topic is nevertheless gaining attention in the research community.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters in 2022 to a series of businesses marketing CBD products for animals, cautioning that there’s a “lack of data on what levels of potential residues are safe for a person consuming the foods that come from CBD-treated animals.”

Last April, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that cows that are fed hempseed cake retain very low concentrations of THC and CBD in their bodies, indicating that meat products from hemp-fed cattle are safe for human consumption.

Another federally funded study published in 2022 found that feeding cows hemp in fact reduces their stress levels. Researchers have also previously looked into how CBD affects stress and pain in horses.

Among humans, use of cannabis stretches back millennia, according to a recent study, with the plant employed as a source of fiber, nutrition, medicine, spirituality and pleasure.

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