This week, EFSA has published two opinions of the safety evaluation of food enzymes. The first opinion focuses on a pectin lyase obtained from the genetically modified Aspergillus luchuensis. This enzyme is intended to be used in fruit and vegetable processing for juice production. The second application refers to a dextranase obtained from non-GMO Collariella gracilis. This enzyme is proposed to be used in refined sugar production from sugar beet or sugar cane.

In both opinions, EFSA do not raise any safety concern. The safety of margin between the calculated exposure and the LOAEL were of 2900 and 800 respectively. In both cases, applicants performed a bioinformatic study comparing the amino acid sequence of the enzyme with known allergens, without highlighting any similarity. Therefore, no allergenicity concern is highlighted, even if EFSA notes that the risk of allergic sensitization and elicitation reactions cannot be excluded.

Nevertheless, EFSA concludes that both food enzymes do not give rise to safety concern under the intended conditions of use.

EFSA CEP Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, Bolognesi C, Cocconcelli PS, Crebelli R, Gott DM, GrobK, Lampi E, Mengelers M, Mortensen A, Rivière G, Steffensen I-L, Tlustos C, Van Loveren H, Vernis L,Zorn H, Andryszkiewicz M, Liu Y, Rainieri S and Chesson A, 2022. Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the food enzyme dextranase from the Collariella gracilis strain AE-DX. EFSA Journal2022;20(5):7279.

EFSA CEP Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, Bolognesi C, Cocconcelli PS, Crebelli R, Gott DM, GrobK, Lampi E, Mengelers M, Mortensen A, Rivière G, Steffensen I-L, Tlustos C, Van Loveren H, Vernis L,Zorn H, Glandorf B, Herman L, Andryszkiewicz M, Arcella D, Kovalkovicova N, Liu Y and Chesson A,2022. Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the food enzyme pectin lyase from the genetically modified Aspergillus luchuensis strain FLOSC. EFSA Journal 2022;20(5):7235.