Safety of grain and flour from perennial intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) 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 grain and flour from perennial intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) (Thinopyrum intermedium) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF, composed primarily of carbohydrates, proteins and water, is produced by cultivating the IWG plant and subsequently processing it to yield either grains or flour. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population and the NF is proposed as a food ingredient in several food products. Considering the nutritional profile of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, its consumption is considered not nutritionally disadvantageous, and the Panel considers that no toxicological studies are required on this NF. The microbiological analyses for several batches of the NF revealed high microbial counts regarding total aerobic microbial count, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and moulds, highlighting excessive variability in the hygiene conditions along the production process. The NF has the same potential as wheat, barley and rye to trigger IgE-mediated allergic reactions in cereal-allergic individuals and/or adverse reactions in individuals with coeliac disease under the proposed conditions of use. The Panel notes that, due to the high microbial loads observed in both IWG grain and flour batches, the microbiological quality of the NF is compromised. The potential presence of Enterobacteriaceae and opportunistic pathogen Pantoea species, such as P. agglomerans, and further released compounds could pose safety concerns. Moreover, the provided stability data do not support a 12-month shelf-life for the NF. Based on the available data, the Panel concludes that the safety of the NF, grain and flour from perennial intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) cannot be established.