歐盟評估轉基因米曲霉菌株AR-962生產的果膠酯酶的安全性

【資料圖】

據了解，這種食品酶是由轉基因米曲霉菌株AR-962生產的，旨在用于五種食品制造過程：果汁生產中的水果和蔬菜加工、果汁以外產品的水果和蔬菜加工、葡萄酒和葡萄酒醋的生產、作為調味制劑的植物提取物的生產以及咖啡脫脂。

經過評估，專家小組認為，在預期的使用條件下，不能排除飲食暴露引起過敏反應的風險，尤其是對花粉過敏的個體。根據所提供的數據，小組得出結論，這種食品酶在預期使用條件下不會引起安全問題。部分原文報道如下：

The food enzyme pectinesterase (pectin pectylhydrolase; EC 3.1.1.11) is produced with the genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae strain AR-962 by AB Enzymes GmbH. The genetic modifications did not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme was free from viable cells of the production organism and its DNA. It is intended to be used in five food manufacturing processes: fruit and vegetable processing for juice production, fruit and vegetable processing for products other than juice, production of wine and wine vinegar, production of plant extracts as flavouring preparations and coffee demucilation. Since residual amounts of total organic solids are removed by repeated washing or distillation, dietary exposure to the food enzyme total organic solids (TOS) from the production of flavouring extracts and coffee demucilation was considered not necessary. For the remaining three food processes, dietary exposure to the food enzyme-TOS was estimated to be up to 0.647 mg TOS/kg bw per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not indicate 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 1,000 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 1,546. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence to those of known allergens was made and two matches with pollen allergens were found. The Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure, particularly in individuals sensitised to pollen allergens, cannot be excluded. 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.