“Shift Towards Natural and Functional Ingredients”
- Livestock producers across Europe are increasingly replacing synthetic feed additives with botanical extracts and plant-based sweeteners to improve animal health and meet clean-label standards. This shift is largely influenced by growing consumer demand for naturally sourced food products and sustainable farming practices
- The European Union’s ban on antibiotic growth promoters has accelerated the use of natural functional ingredients that not only enhance feed palatability but also support immune health and gut integrity. This has led to the formulation of feeds enriched with essential oils, herbs, and plant-derived sweeteners
- Feed manufacturers are incorporating stevia and glycyrrhizin in swine and poultry diets to mask unpleasant feed odors while ensuring higher intake during critical phases such as weaning
- For instance, producers in Spain have reported increased feed acceptance in piglets after introducing stevia-based additives in starter rations
- Clean-label flavor systems with added health benefits are seeing strong adoption in markets such as Germany and the Netherlands, where consumer preference for sustainable animal products is driving innovation in feed formulations. Companies are focusing on dual-function ingredients that enhance both taste and nutritional value
- The trend is supported by collaborative research initiatives across the EU aimed at reducing synthetic inputs in livestock nutrition and improving traceability in animal food chains. This regulatory and research-backed approach is paving the way for broader integration of natural flavors and sweeteners in commercial feed
