Safety evaluation of the food enzyme maltogenic amylase from a genetically modified Bacillus subtilis (strain NZYM‐OC)

• Main Authors: EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), 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, Lieve Herman, André Penninks, Davor Želježic, Jaime Aguilera, Natália Kovalkovičová, Yi Liu, Joaquim Maia, Claudia Roncancio Peña, Andrew Chesson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2018-11-01
• Series: EFSA Journal
• Subjects: food enzyme; glucan 1; 4‐α‐maltohydrolase; 4‐α‐d‐glucan α‐maltohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.133; maltogenic amylase
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5477

Abstract The food enzyme maltogenic amylase (glucan 1,4‐a‐maltohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.133) is produced with a genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain NZYM‐OC by Novozymes A/S. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production microorganism and recombinant DNA. This maltogenic amylase is intended to be used in baking processes. Based on the maximum use levels recommended, dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 0.649 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not raise a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90‐day oral toxicity in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level at the mid‐dose of 371 mg TOS/kg bw per day that, compared with the estimated dietary exposure, results in a sufficiently high margin of exposure (at least 570). Similarity of the amino acid sequence to those of known allergens was searched and three matches were found. The Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use, the risk of allergic sensitisation and elicitation reactions upon dietary exposure to this food enzyme cannot be excluded, but the likelihood of such reactions 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.