Open AccessSafety evaluation of the food enzyme α‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Escherichia coli strain WCM 105xp CM 703
Author(s) -
Silano Vittorio,
Barat Baviera José Manuel,
Bolognesi Claudia,
Cocconcelli Pier Sandro,
Crebelli Riccardo,
Gott David Michael,
Grob Konrad,
Lambré Claude,
Lampi Evgenia,
Mengelers Marcel,
Mortensen Alicja,
Rivière Gilles,
Steffensen IngerLise,
Tlustos Christina,
Loveren Henk Van,
Vernis Laurence,
Zorn Holger,
Aguilera Jaime,
Kovalkovicova Natalia,
Liu Yi,
Maia Joaquim,
Chesson Andrew
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6248
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , cyclodextrin , food science , enzyme , food safety , genotoxicity , generally recognized as safe , toxicity , antimicrobial , food additive , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , organic chemistry
The food enzyme α‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase ((1→4)‐α‐ d ‐glucan 4‐α‐ d ‐[(1→4)‐α‐ d ‐glucano]‐transferase; EC 2.4.1.19) is produced with a genetically modified Escherichia coli strain WCM 105xp CM 703 by Wacker Chemie GmbH. The production strain harbours a self‐replicating multicopy plasmid which contains genes conferring resistance to two highly important antimicrobials for human and veterinary medicine. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism, but not of its recombinant DNA . Therefore, the food enzyme poses a risk of promoting the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. It is intended to be used in starch processing for the production of α‐cyclodextrin. Residual amounts of total organic solids (TOS) are removed by the purification steps applied during the production of α‐cyclodextrin; consequently, dietary exposure was not calculated. Genotoxicity tests, although not raising a safety concern, did not comply with the EFSA guideline. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90‐day oral toxicity study in rats. The study was not supplied as a full report. The Panel identified the highest dose tested as the No Observed Adverse Effect Level, which according to the authors of the study corresponds to 260 mg TOS/kg body weight per day. In the absence of information about the sequence homology of this α‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase with known allergens, the Panel could not complete the assessment on the allergenicity of the food enzyme. The Panel concludes that the food enzyme α‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase produced with the genetically modified E. coli strain WCM 105xp CM 703 cannot be considered safe.