Safety of 6′‐Sialyllactose (6′‐SL) sodium salt as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

• Main Authors: EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Dominique Turck, Jacqueline Castenmiller, Stefaan De Henauw, Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst, John Kearney, Alexandre Maciuk, Inge Mangelsdorf, Harry J McArdle, Androniki Naska, Carmen Pelaez, Kristina Pentieva, Alfonso Siani, Frank Thies, Sophia Tsabouri, Marco Vinceti, Francesco Cubadda, Karl Heinz Engel, Thomas Frenzel, Marina Heinonen, Rosangela Marchelli, Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold, Morten Poulsen, Josef Rudolf Schlatter, Henk van Loveren, Paolo Colombo, Helle Katrine Knutsen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020-05-01
• Series: EFSA Journal
• Subjects: 6′‐Sialyllactose; 6′‐SL; human milk oligosaccharide; HMO; HiMO; novel food
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6097

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on 6′‐Sialyllactose (6′‐SL) sodium salt as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is mainly composed of the human‐identical milk oligosaccharide (HiMO) 6′‐SL but also contains D‐lactose, sialic acid and a small fraction of other related oligosaccharides. The NF is produced by fermentation with a genetically modified strain of Escherichia coli K‐12 DH1. The information provided on the manufacturing process, composition and specifications of the NF does not raise safety concerns. The applicant intends to add the NF in a variety of foods, including infant and follow‐on formula, foods for infants and toddlers, foods for special medical purposes and food supplements. The target population is the general population. The anticipated daily intake of 6′‐SL from the NF at the maximum proposed use levels is unlikely to exceed the intake level of naturally occurring 6′‐SL in breastfed infants on a body weight basis. The intake of 6′‐SL in breastfed infants on a body weight basis is expected to be safe also for other population groups. The intake of other carbohydrate‐type compounds structurally related to 6′‐SL is also considered of no safety concern. Food supplements are not intended to be used if other foods with the added NF or breast milk are consumed on the same day. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use.