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Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 22: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until March 2025
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This regulatory report from the European Food Safety Authority updates its list of microorganisms considered safe for use in food and feed production. While not directly about microplastics, this type of safety assessment is relevant because probiotics and other beneficial microorganisms on the QPS list are being studied for their potential to help address environmental contaminants in the food chain.
The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) process was developed to assess the safety of microorganisms used in food and feed chains. During the period covered by this Statement, no new information warranted changes to the status of previously recommended QPS taxonomic units. The QPS list was updated to verify the correctness of the names and the completeness of synonyms. Of the 47 microorganisms notified to EFSA between October 2024 and March 2025 (25 as feed additives, 7 as food enzymes or additives, 6 as novel foods, 8 as plant protection products and 1 as food contact materials), 41 were not evaluated. These latter included 11 filamentous fungi, 4 Escherichia coli and 1 Streptomyces spp. (all excluded from the QPS evaluation), and 25 already on the QPS list. Two of the other six notifications, Bacillus thuringiensis and Ensifer adhaerens, had been previously assessed. The remaining four were assessed for a possible QPS status. Bacillus sonorensis is recommended for the QPS list with the qualifications: 'absence of bacitracin production ability' and 'absence of toxigenic activity'. Vibrio natriegens is also recommended but for 'production purposes only'. Corynebacterium stationis is not recommended due to a limited body of knowledge on its occurrence in the food and feed chain and possible safety concerns in relation to human and animal health. Papilotrema terrestris is not recommended due to a limited body of knowledge. Furthermore, Lactobacillus paragasseri (formerly included in Lactobacillus gasseri) is recommended for the QPS list. The QPS approach can also be followed if the qualifications for QPS are met due to the removal of a gene(s) of concern, by means of genetic modification. For QPS yeasts, used as active agents (viable cells), the qualification 'for production purposes only' was added for when they are used as production strains or as biomass (non-viable cells).
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