EDDI

What is EDDI, and why is it used? Can it be used as a feed additive for organic cows?

EDDI stands for ethylenediamine dihydriodide, a synthetic feed additive. EDDI is also used for therapeutic purposes and administered subtherapeutically for the claimed prevention of certain diseases. Because it is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) in small doses by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and because the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) refers to EDDI as an nutritional source of iodine, OMRI recognizes that it may be used as a mineral nutrient subject to restrictions (see §§205.237(a), 205.603(d)(2)). As an iodine source, it may also be used therapeutically (§§205.238; 205.603(a)(16), 205.603(b)(4)). 

However, EDDI is subject to greater risk for noncompliance, and therefore enforcement of the restriction should receive extra attention. Some producers routinely use EDDI at higher-than-maintenance doses as a preventive measure for hoof rot, lumpy jaw and wooden tongue. The FDA does not recognize these uses as legitimate, and has issued a Compliance Policy Guide (https://www.fda.gov/media/126537/download). Based on this compliance policy, cattle products that do not bear claims for treatment or prevention of animal disease, and are formulated to provide 50 mg or more of EDDI per head per day, may be considered adulterated if they raise safety concerns.

Organic livestock production standards prohibit the administration of all drugs in the absence of a diagnosed illness and all nutrient vitamins and minerals in amounts greater than those needed to maintain the health of the animal at that stage of life (§§205.237, 205.238)). In the case of EDDI, there is a documented pattern of abuse and a clear limit on the use, which makes it subject to greater risk for noncompliance. 

This article was first published in the summer 2004 edition of the OMRI Materials Review newsletter, and was updated in May 2023 by Technical Coordinator Colleen Al-Samarrie.