Food additive databaseenzymeChecked 2026-10-02

α-Galactosidase α-ガラクトシダーゼ

Existing food additiveEU: covered by the food enzymes rules

Purpose: enzyme
On the label: “酵素” (enzyme), “α-ガラクトシダーゼ” (α-galactosidase), “メリビアーゼ” (melibiase), “カルボヒドラーゼ” (carbohydrase)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: α-ガラクトシダーゼ (No. 60)
Source and production: An enzyme that hydrolyzes the α-D-galactoside bonds at the non-reducing ends of sugars, obtained from cultures of filamentous fungi (certain Aspergillus species, Mortierella spp.) or a bacterium (Bacillus stearothermophilus) (definition in the specifications and standards).

In Japan

An enzyme that hydrolyzes the α-galactoside bonds of sugars; its alternative name is “メリビアーゼ” (melibiase). The classification name “カルボヒドラーゼ” (carbohydrase) is shared with other enzymes, so that wording does not tell you which enzyme it is.
It falls within the group name range and can be written as just “酵素” (enzyme). One that is inactivated during manufacturing and leaves no effect in the final food may be exempt from labeling as a processing aid, in which case it does not appear on the label.

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

In the EU, food enzymes are covered by the food enzymes regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008), not by the list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II).

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as enzyme

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