Nisin's industry standard formulation

As a commonly used food additive, the formulation of industry standards for Nisin is of great significance for promoting global synergy in the safety and quality of food additives. The following is an overview of the development of Nisin industry standards:

Standards for Nisin by Major International Standard-Setting Bodies

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC): CAC codes Nisin as INS 234. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–2mg/kg body weight for Nisin A.

European Union (EU): The EU lists Nisin as an authorized food additive with the code E 234. In 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reassessed its safety based on new toxicological data, setting its ADI at 1mg/kg body weight. It also specifies usage limits, such as a maximum level of 12mg/kg in immature cheeses and 25mg/kg in heat-treated meat products.

United States (FDA): The FDA mandates that Nisin preparations must be produced by fermentation of pure cultures of specific Streptococcus lactis strains. The Nisin content must be no less than 900 international units per milligram, with arsenic ≤1ppm, lead ≤2ppm, zinc ≤25ppm, copper + zinc ≤50ppm, total plate count ≤10 per gram, and no detection of E. coli, Salmonella, or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus in 10 grams.

China’s Nisin Industry Standards

China’s national standard for Nisin is GB 1886.231-2023 National Food Safety Standard for Food Additive: Nisin. This standard applies to food additive nisin produced by fermentation of Lactococcus lactis using skim milk solids, other nitrogen-containing substances (such as yeast extract), and carbon-containing substances as main raw materials, followed by extraction.

Significance of Promoting Global Synergy in Nisin Industry Standards

Ensuring Food Safety: Unified Nisin industry standards help ensure its safe use globally, avoiding food safety risks caused by standard discrepancies and protecting consumer health.

Facilitating International Trade: Harmonized standards can reduce trade barriers, lower costs for enterprises related to repeated testing and certification due to differing standards, and promote international trade of Nisin and related food products.

Improving Overall Industry Quality: Industry standards provide unified technical specifications and codes of conduct for Nisin production, testing, and application, driving technological innovation and quality improvement across the industry.

Strategies for Promoting Global Synergy in Nisin Industry Standards

Strengthen International Cooperation and Exchanges: Countries should actively participate in activities of international standard-setting organizations such as CAC, jointly negotiate and formulate international standards for Nisin, and share research results and practical experiences in Nisin safety assessment and testing methods.

Establish Standard Mutual Recognition Mechanisms: Promote the establishment of mutual recognition agreements on Nisin standards among countries, recognizing each other’s safety assessment results and testing data to reduce trade barriers caused by standard differences.

Technical Output and Capacity Building: Assist developing countries in improving their capabilities in formulating Nisin standards and conducting testing through technical assistance and training, promoting the global harmonization of Nisin standards.