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 Troplandis BVBA. Dietary exposure was evaluated for seven food manufacturing processes and was estimated to be up to 6.104 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. Toxicological studies were not required according to the current guidance. Among the four proteins in the cysteine endopeptidase complex, papain and chymopapain are known food allergens. Homology searches of the amino acid sequences of the four proteins in the complex

SUBMITTER: EFSA Panel on Food Enzymes (FEZ) 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12801392 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature