The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released a scientific opinion with the aim of providing an authoritative safety assessment of aspergillopepsin I, a food enzyme produced using the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain DP‐Nzq40. This update is poised to engage a broad range of stakeholders including food manufacturers, regulatory bodies, biotech companies, and consumer protection groups, each of whom will interpret its implications differently based on their interests in food safety, innovation, and regulatory burden.
Published on January 12, 2026, this opinion originates from EFSA, the EU’s specialized agency responsible for independent risk assessment in the food chain. Specifically, it reflects the scientific committee’s expertise in food enzymes and ingredients.
As a scientific opinion rather than legislative action, the document does not impose mandatory requirements but offers a thorough evidence-based safety evaluation. It details assessments of toxicological data, genetic modifications applied to the production strain, and potential allergenicity or adverse effects in consumers. The opinion stops short of setting concrete legal limits or operational deadlines but strongly influences policymakers and food safety regulators by providing scientific grounding for future regulatory decisions.
Policy orientations emphasize rigorous scientific scrutiny of genetically modified organisms used in food production, reinforcing EFSA’s role in ensuring consumer protection while balancing the facilitation of innovation in food technology. This approach highlights the tension between nurturing biotechnological advances and guarding public health.
food enzyme producers gain clarity on safety expectations, although they face costs linked to rigorous testing and documentation; regulatory authorities receive a benchmark for assessing approval requests, potentially intensifying oversight; consumers benefit from reinforced safety assurances, yet may experience limited product availability if producers delay compliance; civil society and NGOs focused on GMO safety may find new scientific arguments to support their advocacy, shaping public debate.
This opinion marks a continuation of EFSA’s ongoing process of evaluating food enzyme safety within the EU framework. The European Commission and national food safety agencies are expected to use this scientific groundwork to guide regulatory updates or administrative approvals, ensuring that innovation proceeds without compromising consumer safety.
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