BASF launches Novasil™ Plus
- Novasil Plus: this long-established product is now directly available from BASF as of January 2013
- For use as an anti-caking agent or aflatoxin binder, depending on its registration status in each country
- Safety and efficacy in animals attested in more than 60 scientific publications
Ludwigshafen, Germany – January 16, 2013 – BASF has launched Novasil™ Plus, a feed additive for achieving better and safer animal nutrition. As of January 2013 this product, which has been well-established in the feed market for years, is directly available from BASF. Novasil Plus can be used in two ways, depending on its registration status in each country: as an anticaking agent for enhancing the flow properties of feed or feed ingredients, or for specifically binding aflatoxins, which are the deadliest mycotoxins. Aflatoxins can occur in all grains, posing huge risks to animal health.
“BASF is striving to optimize animal nutrition,” commented Dr. Alexandra Brand, who heads BASF’s global Animal Nutrition business unit. “Novasil Plus helps feed producers to improve the technical properties of feed while enhancing animals’ health by relieving them of the negative effects of poisonous aflatoxins. This delivers major benefits for both farmers and consumers.”
Aflatoxins: Huge Health Risks for Animals
Aflatoxins, which are produced by several species of the Aspergillus mold, can occur under certain temperature, moisture, and nutrient availability conditions both before and after crops are harvested. Contamination of grains with aflatoxins is usually particularly high during warm, humid weather conditions or after drought, as well as in subtropical regions. If animals ingest grain contaminated with aflatoxins, this can negatively impact their health with effects ranging from a weakened immune system to severe liver damage or even death. Metabolites of aflatoxins can also find their way into the human nutrition chain via milk, eggs, and meat.
Novasil Plus, which is easy to add to feed, effectively binds aflatoxins during the digestive process, which makes them largely unavailable for absorption by the animal. In contrast to other types of mycotoxin binders, the binding activity of Novasil Plus is absolutely reliable and independent of the pH value in the gut. It does not bind valuable nutrients, thus preserving the nutritional value of feed.
Novasil Plus: Safety and Efficacy Attested in More Than 60 Scientific Publications
“Novasil Plus is the platinum standard of aflatoxin binders,” stresses Professor Timothy Phillips of Texas A&M University. “As a clay product, it is absolutely stable during feed production and ingestion. More than 60 scientific publications attest to its safety and efficacy in animals.”
Novasil Plus consists of naturally occurring high-purity calcium bentonite clay. It has been available in the market since the early 1990s. BASF acquired the U.S. production site when it bought Engelhard in 2006. Until the end of 2012, BASF sold Novasil Plus exclusively to one customer only. Novasil Plus is currently registered as a mycotoxin binder in some but not all countries. In the U.S. and EU (27) it is also registered as an anti-caking agent.
More information on Novasil Plus is available on the Internet at www.animal-nutrition.basf.com.
About Animal Nutrition
BASF is a global leader in sustainable animal nutrition, offering vitamins, carotenoids, enzymes, organic acids, and specialties for all types of feed. Its products are mainly fed to ruminants, poultry, pigs, farmed fish, and companion animals. Innovative products (such as Natugrain® TS), modern technologies (including white biotechnology), and SET, BASF’s initiative for applied sustainability, pave the way for making animal nutrition not only more efficient and cost-effective, but also more sustainable. BASF’s expert teams help the nutrition industry analyze and systematically improve the efficiency and sustainability of products and make verifiable value propositions to the entire value chain up to and including consumers. For more information, visit www.animal-nutrition.basf.com and www.set.basf.com.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com
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