Lactic acid bacteria with health claims - interactions and interference with gastrointestinal flora

Lactic acid bacteria in foods have a long history of safe use. Members of t he genera Lactococcus and Lactobacillus have a 'generally-recognised-as-saf e' status, whilst members of the genera Streptococcus and Enterococcus and some other genera of lactic acid bacteria contain opportunistic pathogens. New species and more specific strains of probiotic bacteria are constantly being identified. Prior to incorporating new strains into products their ef ficacy should be carefully assessed and a case-by-case evaluation of whethe r they share the safety status of traditional food-grade organisms should b e made. Genetically modified organisms are by definition always novel. Any safety assessment is based on the decision of the novel status, including p henotypic and genotypic characterisation. Additionally, for genetically mod ified organisms and their products, information is required in the followin g categories: effects of the genetic modification on the properties of the host organism, genetic stability of the genetically modified organism, spec ificity of expression of novel genetic material, transfer of genetic materi al from genetically modified organisms, and the ability of genetically modi fied microorganisms to colonise and to survive in the human gut. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.