Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain, a cysteine endopeptidase complex from the latex of <i>Carica papaya</i> L.

ABSTRACT: The food enzyme is a cysteine endopeptidase complex, containing papain (EC 3.4.22.2), chymopapain (EC 3.4.22.6), caricain (EC 3.4.22.30) and glycyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.25), obtained from the latex of unripe Carica papaya L. by Enzybel International SA. It is intended to be used in nine food manufacturing processes. Since residual amounts of the food enzyme-total organic solids (TOS) are removed in one process, dietary exposure was calculated for the remaining eight food manufacturing processes. It was estimated to be up to 0.409 mg TOS/kg body weight per day. This exposure is in the same order of magnitude as the intake of the corresponding fraction from unripe C. papaya L. latex. The toxicological studies provided were not required according to the current guidance; nev

SUBMITTER: EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ) 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12797086 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature