EFSA Greenlights Leucyl Aminopeptidase After Revising Use Across 7 Food Processes with 499 Safety Margin

On May 14, 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a positive opinion on the food enzyme leucyl aminopeptidase, produced by the non-GMO strain AE-MB of Aspergillus and intended for use in seven different food manufacturing applications.

EFSA had previously raised concerns due to insufficient safety margins when the enzyme was used in five food processes. However, the applicant withdrew one intended use, added three new applications, and revised use levels, leading to a fresh evaluation.

In the updated risk assessment, the maximum estimated exposure to the enzyme was 0.367 mg/kg body weight/day, while toxicology data from earlier studies reported a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 183 mg/kg bw/day. This results in a safety margin of at least 499, which EFSA deemed acceptable.

Based on this revised analysis, EFSA concluded that the enzyme poses no safety concerns under its intended conditions of use, paving the way for broader application in food processing.