Safety evaluation of the food enzyme containing endo‐polygalacturonase and endo‐1,3(4)‐β‐glucanase from the non‐genetically modified Aspergillus fijiensis strain NZYM‐RE

The food enzyme has two declared activities, endo‐polygalacuronase ((1→4)‐α‐D‐galacturonan glycanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.15) and endo‐1,3(4)‐β‐glucanase (3‐(1→3;1→4)‐β‐D‐glucan 3(4)‐glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.6) and is produced with the non‐genetically modified Aspergillus fijiensis strain NZYM‐RE by Novozymes A/S. The food enzyme was considered free from viable cells of the production organism. It is intended to be used in eight food manufacturing processes, i.e. distilled alcohol production, brewing processes, baking processes, cereal‐based processes, wine and wine vinegar production, fruit and vegetable processing for juice production, fruit and vegetable processing for products other than juices and refined olive oil production. Since residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed during distilled alcohol production and refined olive oil production, dietary exposure was not calculated for these two processes. For the remaining six food manufacturing processes, dietary exposure was estimated to be up to 0.553 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 study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 3,677 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested, resulting in a margin of exposure of at least 6,649. A search for similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and nine matches were found. The Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use (other than distilled alcohol production), the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure to this food enzyme, particularly in individuals suffering from the oral allergy syndrome or sensitised to papaya, cannot be excluded. The Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.