SLU assists The European Food Safety Authority in evaluating microbes for safe use in the food and feed chain

The group regularly updates the QPS list, which contains microbial species that are considered comparatively safe for use in the food and feed chain. New candidate microorganisms under assessment for use as biological control agents in plant protection products come up for evaluation according to the QPS safety criteria.

– It is valuable that microbial control agents may obtain QPS status, thus certifying that they are comparatively safe. For instance, the bacterium Pasteuria nishizawae, which parasitizes the nematode Heterodera glycines that cause soybean cyst formation, can be used to control the cyst formation disease and has been added to the QPS list, says Ingvar Sundh.