The use of food enzyme has to be considered as safe after an EFSA evaluation. Three EFSA opinions have been published on food enzymes. In the first opinion, EFSA analyzed the data on a glucan 1,4-α-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger. However, due to the absence of sufficient data notably on the characterization of the source of the enzyme, the production process, and safety data, EFSA was unable to assess the safety of this enzyme.

Conversely, two other enzymes have been recognized as safe by EFSA: a glucan 1,4-α-maltohydrolase from a genetically modified Bacillus lichenformis and a pullulanase from a genetically modified Bacillus lichenformis. Both enzymes are proposed to be used for baking and brewing processes, starch processing for glucose syrup production and production other starch hydrolysates. It should be noted that EFSA considered that toxicological data was not required in these two applications since the strains used for the production of the enzyme have the QPS status, and applicants demonstrated the sufficient removal of TOS (total organic solid).

EFSA CEP Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes andProcessing 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, Aguilera J, Kovalkovicova N, Liu Y and Chesson A, 2022. Scientific opinion on the safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan 1,4-a-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger. EFSA Journal 2022;20(6):7383.

EFSA CEP Panel (EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes andProcessing Aids), Lambré C, Manuel Barat Baviera J, Bolognesi C, Sandro Cocconcelli P, Crebelli R,Michael Gott D, Grob K, Lampi E, Mengelers M, Mortensen A, Rivière G, Steffensen I-L, Tlustos C, VanLoveren H, Vernis L, Zorn H, Herman L, Andryszkiewicz M, Arcella D, Liu Y and Chesson A, 2022.Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan 1,4-a-maltohydrolase from the genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis strain NZYM-FR. EFSA Journal 2022;20(6):7367.

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, Herman L, Roos Y, Liu Y, Ferreira de Sousa R and Chesson A, 2022. Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the food enzyme pullulanase from the genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis strain NZYM-LU. EFSA Journal 2022;20(6):7359.