Safety of chromium-enriched biomass of Yarrowia lipolytica as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on chromium-enriched biomass of Yarrowia lipolytica as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is the dried and heat-killed chromium-enriched biomass of Y. lipolytica. This yeast species is widespread in nature, can be found in the environment and in foods, and was attributed the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) status for production purposes in 2018, including food and feed products based on biomass of the yeast. The production process, fermentation in the presence of chromium chloride, includes a heat-killing step of the yeast, resulting in the absence of viable Y. lipolytica in the NF. The maximum total chromium content of the NF is 23 μg Cr/g, with the chromium present as Cr(III). The applicant proposed to use the NF as a food supplement. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population from 3 years of age onwards, with maximum proposed use levels of 2 g/day for children from 3 to 9 years of age and 4 g/day thereafter. At the proposed use levels of the NF, the combined intake of chromium provided by the NF, in addition to a background diet high in chromium, would result in total chromium intakes well below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for chromium(III) for all target population groups. The Panel concludes that the NF, chromium-enriched biomass of Y. lipolytica, is safe under the proposed conditions of use.