EFSA Journal (Mar 2019)

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from Aspergillus niger (strain LFS)

  • EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (EFSA CEP Panel),
  • Vittorio Silano,
  • José Manuel Barat Baviera,
  • Claudia Bolognesi,
  • Beat Johannes Brüschweiler,
  • Pier Sandro Cocconcelli,
  • Riccardo Crebelli,
  • David Michael Gott,
  • Konrad Grob,
  • Evgenia Lampi,
  • Alicja Mortensen,
  • Gilles Rivière,
  • Inger‐Lise Steffensen,
  • Christina Tlustos,
  • Henk Van Loveren,
  • Laurence Vernis,
  • Holger Zorn,
  • Boet Glandorf,
  • Lieve Herman,
  • Klaus‐Dieter Jany,
  • Sirpa Kärenlampi,
  • André Penninks,
  • Jaime Aguilera,
  • Margarita Aguileria‐Gómez,
  • Davide Arcella,
  • Christine Horn,
  • Natália Kovalkovičová,
  • Yi Liu,
  • Joaquim Manuel Maia,
  • Andrew Chesson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5630
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 3
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract The food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) is produced with a genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain LFS by DSM Food Specialties B.V.. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism and recombinant DNA. The triacylglycerol lipase food enzyme is intended to be used in baking processes. Based on the maximum use levels, dietary exposure to the food enzyme‐total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 0.020 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day. The toxicity studies were carried out with an asparaginase from A. niger (strain ASP). The Panel considered this enzyme as a suitable substitute to be used in the toxicological studies, because they derive from the same recipient strain, the location of the inserts are comparable, no partial inserts were present and the production methods are essentially the same. 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 (NOAEL) at the highest dose of 1,038 and 1,194 mg TOS/kg bw per day (for males and females, respectively) that, compared with the estimated dietary exposure, results in a sufficiently high margin of exposure (MoE) (of at least 51,900). Similarity of the amino acid sequence 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 to occur 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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