EFSA Journal (Jan 2021)

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme cellulase from the non‐genetically modified Penicillium funiculosum strain DP‐Lzc35

  • EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP),
  • Vittorio Silano,
  • José Manuel Barat Baviera,
  • Claudia Bolognesi,
  • Pier Sandro Cocconcelli,
  • Riccardo Crebelli,
  • David Michael Gott,
  • Konrad Grob,
  • Claude Lambré,
  • Evgenia Lampi,
  • Marcel Mengelers,
  • Alicja Mortensen,
  • Gilles Rivière,
  • Inger‐Lise Steffensen,
  • Christina Tlustos,
  • Henk van Loveren,
  • Laurence Vernis,
  • Holger Zorn,
  • Boet Glandorf,
  • Karl‐Heinz Engel,
  • André Penninks,
  • Davor Želježic,
  • Magdalena Andryszkiewicz,
  • Davide Arcella,
  • Ana Gomes,
  • Natalia Kovalkovicova,
  • Yi Liu,
  • Andrew Chesson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6365
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract The food enzyme cellulase (4‐(1,3;1,4)‐β‐d‐glucan 4‐glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.4) is produced with the non‐genetically modified Penicillium funiculosum strain Lzc35 by Danisco US Inc. The cellulase is intended to be used in distilled alcohol production, baking and brewing processes. Since residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed by distillation, dietary exposure was only calculated for baking and brewing processes. Based on the proposed maximum use levels, dietary exposure to the food enzyme–TOS was estimated to be up to 0.416 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day. Genotoxicity tests did not raise a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90‐day oral toxicity study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 84 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested, which when compared with the estimated dietary exposure, resulted in a margin of exposure of at least 200. Similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to those of known allergens was searched and no match was found. The Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use, the risk of allergic sensitisation and elicitation reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded, but the likelihood is considered to be low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.

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