Chapter 5: Enzymes
Amylase
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The worst fact: in a 2017 study of 813 workers who handled enzymes in flavour, fragrance, detergent and drug factories, 44% of those working with amylase-type enzymes had enzyme-allergy antibodies in their blood, the highest rate in the study. Australia classes it as "May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled". What were thought to be the first reported cases of amylase asthma in the detergent industry were published in 2000: four men at one factory, even though they only handled encapsulated enzymes.
Why brands use it: it breaks down starch stains such as sauces, ketchup, baby food and chocolate pudding, and stops a starchy film trapping grey dirt.
Take care if: you have asthma or allergies, especially if you're a baker. Fungal amylase used in bread improvers is a known cause of baker's asthma, though it's a different amylase from the bacterial ones in detergents.
Comes from: fermentation by Bacillus bacteria, usually genetically modified strains.
Myth check: "All enzymes irritate skin and eyes": not at wash strength. The detergent industry's 2005 risk assessment found amylase, cellulase and lipase only mildly irritating when concentrated, most likely from traces of protease, and not irritating at the strengths in a wash.
Contaminants: nil.
Fair to say: the detergent industry's 2005 risk assessment found no documented cases of consumers sensitised to amylase, cellulase or lipase.
Correct as of November 2026. What the badges mean
Sources
- Safe Work Australia. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS): subtilisin, alpha-amylase, cellulase, mannanase.
- HERA. Subtilisins (protease), 2nd ed. (2007); alpha-amylases, cellulases and lipases (2005).
- Hole AM et al. Occupational asthma caused by bacillary amylase used in the detergent industry. Occup Environ Med 2000.
- Budnik LT et al. Sensitising effects of genetically modified enzymes used in flavour, fragrance, detergence and pharmaceutical production. Occup Environ Med 2017.
- Callisen T et al. Enzymer til vaskemidler. Dansk Kemi 2006;87(3).
The full source list is at the end of Chapter 5.