Papain
What is Papain?
Papain is a digestive enzyme derived from the papaya fruit. It is produced by extracting the latex from the papaya plant and then purifying and drying it. This process concentrates the enzyme's natural meat-tenderizing properties.
Is Papain vegan?
Papain is not animal-derived. Products that contain it can still include other animal-derived ingredients, so check the full ingredient list.
Is Papain gluten-free?
It does not contain gluten.
Is Papain a major allergen?
Papain is derived from papaya, which is not one of the nine FDA major allergens.
What is Papain used for?
Papain is primarily used as a meat tenderizer because it breaks down tough protein fibers.
Is Papain safe?
In the U.S., papain is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use as a food enzyme.
Why it's used
Papain is primarily used as a meat tenderizer because it breaks down tough protein fibers. It is also used as a clarifying agent in beer and wine, and can be found in some dietary supplements. Manufacturers add it to foods like marinades, seasoning mixes, and crackers to improve texture and digestibility.
Health notes
In the U.S., papain is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use as a food enzyme. It is considered safe when consumed in amounts typically found in food. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated papain, and EFSA has also assessed its safety. While papain is generally well-tolerated, some individuals may experience allergic reactions, particularly those with latex or papaya allergies.
Allergen info
Papain is derived from papaya, which is not one of the nine FDA major allergens. It does not contain gluten.
Foods that contain Papain
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