Safety of Selected Bacterial Starter Cultures
Members of the genus Lactobacillus and Pediococcus are genrally considered nonpathogenic for the consumer. The safety of these two bacterial genera has recently been assessed by EFSA in the risk-assessment approach named Qualified Presumption of Safety (EFSA 2008) However, risk factors could be the production of biogenic amines or the presence of transmissible determinants for the antibiotic resistance. The Staphylococcus genus also encompasses several species responsible for infections or intoxications. For this reason, the production of enterotoxins and the presence of acquired resistance to antibiotic are major concerns in CNS.