2024年2月20日，欧盟食品安全局就一种天冬酰胺酶（asparaginase）的安全性评价发布意见。
据了解，这种食品酶是由转基因黑曲霉菌株AGN生产的，旨在用于防止食品加工中丙烯酰胺的形成。
经过评估，专家小组认为，在预期的使用条件下，不能排除饮食暴露引起过敏反应的风险，但这种情况发生的可能性很低。根据所提供的数据，评估小组得出结论，这种食品酶在预期使用条件下不会引起安全问题。部分原文报道如下：
The food enzyme asparaginase (l-asparagine amidohydrolase; EC 3.5.1.1) is produced with the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain AGN by DSM Food Specialties B.V. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism and its DNA. It is intended to be used to prevent acrylamide formation in food processing. The dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 1.434 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. The toxicity studies were carried out with an asparaginase from A. niger (strain ASP). The Panel considered this food enzyme as a suitable substitute for the asparaginase to be used in the toxicological studies, because the genetic differences between the production strains are not expected to result in a different toxigenic potential, and the raw materials and manufacturing processes of both food enzymes are comparable. Genotoxicity tests did not indicate a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 1038 mg TOS/kg bw per day, which, when compared with the estimated dietary exposure, resulted in a margin of exposure of at least 724. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded, but the likelihood is low. based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns under the intended conditions of use.
