欧盟评估一种甜菊醇糖苷用作食品添加剂的安全性

　　2019年10月28日，据欧盟食品安全局（EFSA）消息，欧盟食品添加剂和调味剂小组（ FAF ）对食品添加剂甜菊醇糖苷 （Steviol glycosides） （E 960）（特别是瑞鲍迪甙M）规范的拟议修正案的安全性提供了科学意见。

　　据了解，瑞鲍迪甙M是通过纯化的甜叶菊提取物的酶促生物转化生产的。经过评估，专家组认为，上述的莱鲍迪甙M用作食品添加剂不存在安全性问题。

　　部分原文报道如下：

　　The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings （FAF） provides a scientific opinion on the safety of the proposed amendment of the specifications for steviol glycosides （E 960） as a food additive, in particular related to rebaudioside M produced via enzyme‐catalysed bioconversion of purified stevia leaf extract. Rebaudioside M （95% on dry basis） is produced via enzymatic bioconversion of purified stevia leaf extract using uridine diphosphate （UDP）‐glucosyltransferase and sucrose synthase enzymes produced by the genetically modified yeasts K. phaffii UGT‐a and K. phaffii UGT‐b, that facilitates the transfer of glucose to purified stevia leaf extract via glycosidic bonds. The Panel considered that the parental strain K. phaffii ATCC 20864 qualifies for the qualified presumption of safety （QPS） approach for safety assessment and, therefore, is considered to be safe for production purposes. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for Rebaudioside M produced via enzymatic bioconversion of purified stevia leaf extract using UDP‐glucosyltransferase and sucrose synthase enzymes produced by the genetically modified yeasts K. phaffii UGT‐a and K. phaffii UGT‐b, to be used as a food additive. However, the Panel recommended that the European Commission considers establishing separate specifications for Rebaudioside M produced via enzymatic bioconversion of purified stevia leaf extract in Commission Regulation （EU） No 231/2012.