The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that a food enzyme containing cellulase, endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase and endo-1,4-β-xylanase activities from the non-genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain AR-999 does not pose safety concerns when used in twelve food manufacturing processes, including a newly requested use in plant-based analogues of milk and milk products. The opinion, adopted on 24 June 2026 and published on 10 July 2026, updates a previous safety evaluation from November 2025 that covered eleven processes. The additional use involves adding the enzyme to plant materials such as cereals, legumes, nuts, and oil seeds to decrease viscosity and increase yield, with the enzyme remaining in the final food.
The dietary exposure to the food enzyme–Total Organic Solids (TOS) was estimated for nine processes where TOS are not removed, reaching up to 4.031 mg TOS/kg body weight per day in European populations. Combined with the previously reported no observed adverse effect level of 1000 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the margin of exposure is at least 248, which EFSA considers safe. The applicant, AB Enzymes GmbH, submitted the extension request on 7 April 2025, and a public consultation from 16 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 received no comments. The opinion was adopted by the EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ), chaired by Holger Zorn.