Safety of Clostridium butyricum TO‐A as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

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 <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> TO-A as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF, which is proposed by the applicant to be used as a food supplement, is sufficiently characterised. The information provided on the production process, composition, stability and specifications of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. Based on the findings of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rats, and considering an uncertainty factor of 200, the Panel estimated a safe dose in humans of 4.5 × 10⁶ colony forming unit (CFU)/kg body weight (bw) per day. However, considering that appropriate initial bacteria colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract in humans, in particular during the first 3 years of life, profoundly affects health during infancy and childhood, that disruptions to the microbiota early in life can have lasting health effects into adulthood, and taking into account that the 90-day oral toxicity study was conducted in adult rats, the Panel considers that the target population for the NF should be restricted to children above 3 years of age, adolescents and adults, excluding pregnant and lactating women. The Panel concludes that the NF, <i>C. butyricum</i> TO-A, is safe at 1.0 × 10⁸ CFU/day for other children (3 to < 10 years), 2.0 × 10⁸ CFU/day for adolescents from 10 to < 14 years, 2.8 × 10⁸ CFU/day for adolescents from 14 to < 18 years and 3.2 × 10⁸ CFU/day for adults, excluding pregnant and lactating women.