经过评估，由于现有数据的局限性，食物链污染物小组无法确定硝酸盐对除反刍动物和猪以外物种的健康风险，以及亚硝酸盐对所有牲畜和伴生动物的健康风险。根据有限的数据集，硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐从饲料向动物源性食品的转移，以及硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐介导的N-亚硝胺的形成及其向这些产品的转移可能可以忽略不计。部分原文报道如下：

 

　　The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific opinion on the risks to animal health related to nitrite and nitrate in feed. For nitrate ion, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (ConTAM Panel) identified a BMDL10 of 64 mg nitrate/kg body weight (bw) per day for adult cattle, based on methaemoglobin (MetHb) levels in animal's blood that would not induce clinical signs of hypoxia. The BMDL10 is applicable to all bovines, except for pregnant cows in which reproductive effects were not clearly associated with MetHb formation. Since the data available suggested that ovines and caprines are not more sensitive than bovines, the BMDL10 could also be applied to these species. Highest mean exposure estimates of 53 and 60 mg nitrate/kg bw per day in grass silage‐based diets for beef cattle and fattening goats, respectively, may raise a health concern for ruminants when compared with the BMDL10 of 64 mg nitrate/kg bw per day. The concern may be higher because other forages might contain higher levels of nitrate. Highest mean exposure estimates of 2.0 mg nitrate/kg bw per day in pigs’ feeds indicate a low risk for adverse health effects, when compared with an identified no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 410 mg nitrate/kg bw per day, although the levels of exposure might be underestimated due to the absence of data on certain key ingredients in the diets of this species. Due to the limitations of the data available, the ConTAM Panel could not characterise the health risk in species other than ruminants and pigs from nitrate and in all livestock and companion animals from nitrite. based on a limited data set, both the transfer of nitrate and nitrite from feed to food products of animal origin and the nitrate‐ and nitrite‐mediated formation of N‐nitrosamines and their transfer into these products are likely to be negligible.