Submissions invited on dairy processing aid

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for submissions on an application made by food ingredient manufacturer DuPont Australia to permit a new dairy processing aid.

The application seeks to permit the use of lactase (β-galactosidase) enzyme from a genetically modified strain of Bacillus subtilis.

“The enzyme would be used to produce low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products and to produce galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), which is used as an ingredient in other foods,” FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Mark Booth said.

“Following a safety assessment, FSANZ has concluded there are no public health and safety issues relating to the use of the enzyme.”

FSANZ also stated that since there is no identifiable hazard, an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of ‘not specified’ is appropriate and a dietary exposure assessment was not required. The enzyme has been determined as generally recognised as safe (GRAS) in the US, is approved in Denmark and France, and is in the process of being approved in Canada.

The deadline for submissions is 6 pm (Canberra time) on 17 January 2019.

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