Journal article

Authors list: EFSA FEZ Panel; Zorn, Holger; Baviera, Jose Manuel Barat; Bolognesi, Claudia; Catania, Francesco; Gadermaier, Gabriele; Greiner, Ralf; Mayo, Baltasar; Mortensen, Alicja; Roos, Yrjo Henrik; Solano, Marize L. M.; Sramkova, Monika; Van Loveren, Henk; Vernis, Laurence; Cavanna, Daniele; de Nijs, Roos Anna; Di Piazza, Giulio; Liu, Yi

Publication year: 2024

Journal: EFSA Journal

Volume number: 22

Issue number: 10

eISSN: 1831-4732

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9039

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
The food enzyme has four declared activities: endo-polygalacturonase ((1-4)-alpha-d-galacturonan glycanohydrolase (endo-cleaving); EC 3.2.1.15), pectinesterase (pectin pectylhydrolase; EC 3.1.1.11), pectin lyase ((1-4)-6-O-methyl-alpha-d-galacturonan lyase; EC 4.2.2.10) and non-reducing end alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase (alpha-L-arabinofuranoside non-reducing end alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase; EC 3.2.1.55). It is produced with the non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain PEC by DSM Food Specialties B.V. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns when used in three food manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the applicant has requested to extend its use to include four additional processes. In this assessment, EFSA updated the safety evaluation of this food enzyme when used in a total of seven food manufacturing processes. As the food enzyme-total organic solids (TOS) are removed from the final foods in one food manufacturing process, the dietary exposure to the food enzyme-TOS was estimated only for the remaining six processes. The dietary exposure was calculated to be up to 0.612 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. When combined with the no observed adverse effect level previously reported (204 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested), the Panel derived a margin of exposure of at least 333. Based on the previous evaluation, the assessment of the new data and the revised margin of exposure, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the revised intended conditions of use.

Harvard Citation style: EFSA FEZ Panel, Zorn, H., Baviera, J., Bolognesi, C., Catania, F., Gadermaier, G., et al. (2024) Safety evaluation of an extension of use of a food enzyme containing endo-polygalacturonase, pectinesterase, pectin lyase and non-reducing end α-L-arabinofuranosidase activities from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain PEC, EFSA Journal, 22(10), Article e9039. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9039

APA Citation style: EFSA FEZ Panel, Zorn, H., Baviera, J., Bolognesi, C., Catania, F., Gadermaier, G., Greiner, R., Mayo, B., Mortensen, A., Roos, Y., Solano, M., Sramkova, M., Van Loveren, H., Vernis, L., Cavanna, D., de Nijs, R., Di Piazza, G., & Liu, Y. (2024). Safety evaluation of an extension of use of a food enzyme containing endo-polygalacturonase, pectinesterase, pectin lyase and non-reducing end α-L-arabinofuranosidase activities from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain PEC. EFSA Journal. 22(10), Article e9039. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9039