Formaldehyde is a highly volatile and flammable chemical compound that is used in animal feed for microbiological control, both in the preservation of feed (compound feed and/or feed ingredient) and for the control of pathologies in animals and the food safety of the final product.

Its high microbicidal power, both on vegetative cells and on spores, is thanks to its alkylating action on proteins and nucleic acids of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Formaldehyde replaces labile hydrogens from certain chemical groups (NH2, OH, COOH, and SH) producing hydroxymethylation and condensation (crosslinking).

By cross-linking primary amines and other reactive groups with fatty acids, proteins, and nucleic acids, it stops biochemical reactions and places cell structures in permanent stasis. (Chen et al, 2016; Chua et al, 2019).

By forming cross-links with DNA and proteins through alkylation, it inhibits DNA replication. It reacts with DNA nucleoproteins, inactivating the molecule and blocking cell division.

It is an extremely reactive chemical product that interacts with proteins, DNA and RNA, so it must be considered a particularly dangerous product, since in addition to its irritant and sensitizing action, it is a product recognized as carcinogenic, so exposure to it must be reduced as much as possible.

Bibliography:

• Chen, N.H.Djoko, K,J.Veyrier, F.J and McEwan, A.G. 2016. Formaldehyde stress responses in bacterial pathogens. Frontiers in Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00257
• Chua, J. Bozue, J.A. Klimbo, C.P. Shoe, J.L. Ruiz, S.I. Jensen, C.L. Tobery, S.A. Crumpler, J.M.Chabot, D.J. Quirk, A.V. Hunter, M. Harbourt, D.E. Friedlander, A.M and Cote, C.K. 2019. Formaldehyde and Glutaraldahyde incactivación of bacterial tier 1 select agents in tissues. Emerging Infectious Diseases. www. cdc.gov/eid. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2505.180928