Safety evaluation of the food enzyme mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain ACH 12-525



 

Report

Status Finished EFSA question number EFSA-Q-2023-00242
Adopted 12-09-2025
Previous authorisations The applicant has submitted a dossier in March 2023 in support of the application for authorisation of the food enzyme cellulase from a non-genetically modified Aspergillus niger (strain ACH 12-525). The dossier was updated in July 2023 as an ‘application for the authorisation of endo-1,4-β-mannosidase from aspergillus niger strain ACH 12-525’. Additional information was requested from the applicant during the assessment phase on 13 July 2023 and 13 March 2024 and was received on 20 July 2023 and 12 June 2024, respectively.

Production method

Manufacturing The production strain is grown as a pure culture using a typical industrial medium in a […] fermentation system with conventional process controls in place. Formulation Unknown
Downstream processing

After completion of the fermentation, the enzyme is extracted with water, and the biomass is removed from the fermentation broth by centrifugation, followed by microfiltration. The filtrate containing the enzyme is concentrated, including an ultrafiltration step in which the enzyme protein is retained, while most of the low molecular mass material passes the filtration membrane and is discarded

Average TOS (w/w) 12.3 Average activity/TOS 294.0

EFSA tested impurities

Production strain and recombinant DNA The absence of viable cells of the production strain in the food enzyme was demonstrated. Allergenicity the Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use, a risk of allergic reactions upon dietary exposure to this food enzyme cannot be excluded, but that the likelihood is low
Antimicrobial resistance No antimicrobial activity was detected in any of the tested batches
Antifoam agents / Other The presence of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), fumonisins (B1, B2), ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, T-2 toxin and zearalenone was examined in three food enzyme batches and was below the LoQ of the applied methods.
Pathogens
    Microbiological quality indicators
      Metals
        Comments LoQ for batches 1–3: As = 0.1 mg/kg. LoQ for batch 4: As = 3 mg/kg. LoQs: aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), ochratoxin A = 0.5 μg/kg each; fumonisins (B1, B2) = 0.5 mg/kg; sterigmatocystin, zearalenone = 100 μg/kg each; T-2 toxin = 0.1 mg/kg.