SAFETY EVALUATION OF TANNASE ENZYME PREPARATION DERIVED FROM ASPERGILLUS-ORYZAE

Tannase is an acylhydrolase enzyme preparation from Aspergillus oryzae that can be used as a processing aid for the manufacture of cold wate r-soluble tea beverages. A 91-day oral toxicity study in the rat and a gene mutation study in Salmonella typhimurium were performed to estab lish the safety of the enzyme preparation for the consumer. General to xicity was low, with no adverse effects observed at the highest dose t ested, 1% in the diet. There was no evidence of mutagenic potential, w ith or without metabolic activation. These results, together with know ledge of the production organism and the chemical and microbiological characterization of the enzyme preparation, indicate that tannase can be regarded as safe for its intended use in processing tea. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ltd.