Introduction: Pork, a common figure at the Chinese people's family banquets, has become the main source of animal protein for Chinese people, according to statistics, it accounts for about 60% of the average annual meat consumption in the mainland, and its status is significant.
According to a report released by the China Business Industry Research Institute, the mainland's pork output in 2022 has reached 55.41 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%, and in the first three quarters of 2023, this figure has risen to 43.01 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%.
Each part of pork has its own unique cooking method, hind leg meat, because of its tender meat, is the first choice for making meat filling, tenderloin is suitable for frying or stir-frying, the taste is delicious, pork rib stew, soup is white and fresh, people love, and fat boiled lard residue, is many people's childhood memories.
However, despite the frequent purchase of pork in our daily lives, many people know little about some small things about pork.
Some time ago, the "glue injection meat" incident has not completely subsided, and now there is "borax meat", what kind of meat is this? Is it safe?
01
What is Borax?
Borax, which is not uncommon in everyday life, but is also not a ubiquitous chemical, is not well known to many people, it is a white powder refined from borax ore and containing colorless crystals, also known as sodium borate or sodium tetraborate.
Although it is used in a wide range of applications, including cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, soaps, laundry detergents, fertilizers, preservatives, antifreeze and medical disinfectants, borax is also a very harmful chemical.
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, borax is believed to have a sweet and salty taste, cool nature, and external use can be antiseptic, swelling, heat clearing and detoxification, however, this does not mean that it is a safe substance, in fact, borax is a toxic inorganic compound with accumulation, which is a potentially dangerous substance for the human body.
Studies have shown that adults can cause a toxic reaction when ingesting 1-3 grams of borax at a time, and the lethal dose reaches 15 grams, and for infants and young children, the lethal dose is only 2-5 grams.
Ingestion of a large amount of borax in a short period of time may lead to acute poisoning, symptoms include headache, indigestion, loss of appetite, dizziness, etc., and in severe cases, diarrhea, shock, coma, vomiting and other symptoms may occur, and if not rescued in time, it may lead to death.
It is worth noting that up to now, borax has been banned from being used in food by countries around the world, and in China, according to the provisions of the Food Sanitation Law and the Measures for the Hygiene Management of Food Additives, borax is expressly prohibited from being used in food.
This is not only because of the potential harm it can cause to humans, but also because of its potential risks that cannot be ignored for both infants and adults.
02
What is the "borax pork" that appears on the market?
"Borax pork" is a kind of pork doped with borax circulating in the market, borax as an industrial chemical substance, is not suitable for human consumption, according to the relevant provisions of the mainland's "Food Sanitation Law", borax is a toxic and harmful substance, can not be added to any food.
However, in order to make more profits, some unscrupulous traders add borax to pork without permission and make it into so-called "borax pork" for sale.
The main reason they do this is because borax can "tenderize" pork, making it more bright red and shiny, while increasing the elasticity of the meat.
For consumers, this pork mixed with borax may seem more tender and tasty, however, long-term consumption of borax pork in large quantities may cause great harm to human health.
In fact, as early as the 20th century, the use of borate in food has been banned internationally, and the mainland also stipulated in 1989 that the maximum residue limit of borax in food is 10 mg per kilogram.
However, some unscrupulous traders still take the risk of blending borax into pork for production and sale in pursuit of profits, which is not only illegal but also seriously endangers public health.
Therefore, borax pork circulating in the market is strictly forbidden to be eaten. Once it is found that there is a sale of borax pork, it should be immediately reported to the relevant departments for investigation and punishment.
03
Can you eat "borax pork"?
The answer is clearly no.
In 2002, there was an incident in Henan Province on the mainland of China where he died of poisoning caused by eating borax pork, and it was reported that a 45-year-old man who had vomited and dizzy after buying pork at the local market and eating it had died after being rescued.
Forensic examination showed that the borate levels in the man's liver and kidneys were much higher than normal human standards, and the cause of death was borate poisoning. This incident fully illustrates the toxic hazards of borax pork.
Borax is a toxic chemical that is extremely harmful to human health. If excessive intake of borax can cause symptoms such as nausea, arrhythmia, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, abdominal pain, headache, liver and kidney damage, etc.
Therefore, adding borax to pork is an extremely irresponsible behavior and a serious violation of food safety regulations, and we should be highly vigilant about the hazards of borax pork.
04
Eating "borax pork" often will bring 6 harms to the body
Liver damage
Borax is broken down into boric acid in the body, which is toxic and can cause liver damage and even diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer when consumed for a long time.
Kidney damage
Borax will be metabolized by the kidneys, and long-term consumption will increase the burden on the kidneys, leading to kidney damage, and even causing diseases such as kidney failure.
Gastrointestinal upset
Borax can irritate the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, and long-term consumption can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms.
Nervous system damage
Borax also has a certain toxic effect on the nervous system, and long-term consumption can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headache, and insomnia.
Weakened immunity
Long-term consumption of pork containing borax can also lead to weakened immunity and susceptibility to diseases.
Carcinogenic risk
Borax is considered a potential carcinogen and long-term consumption can increase the risk of cancer.
Therefore, in order to protect our health, we should avoid eating pork containing borax, and in order to protect our own health, consumers must choose formal channels and reputable merchants when buying pork, and pay attention to checking the quality and source of pork.
05
How to distinguish "borax pork"?
Observe the appearance of the pork
Normal pork is pink and has a shiny surface, while pork treated with borax will have a noticeably whitish color and a poor gloss, mainly because borax changes the pigment of pork.
Touch the texture of the pork
Normal pork is softer to the touch, while pork treated with borax will feel harder because of its ability to increase the density and firmness of pork.
Smell the pork
Normal pork has a faint meaty aroma, while pork treated with borax may have a pungent odor because of the pungent smell of borax itself.
Use test strips
Take the tissue liquid on the surface of the suspected borax pork, drop it on the test strip, and compare the color change on the test strip to determine whether the pork is adulterated with borax.
The pH value of normal pork is around 6, which is weakly acidic. If a pH value of more than 8 is detected, reaching a strong alkaline, then it is likely that borax has been incorporated.
06
How to identify other foods containing borax?
Observe the appearance of the food
If the food is very bright in color, or has a noticeable sheen, it may be a sign that borax has been added. In addition, if the texture of the food is too crisp or too delicate, this may also be a sign that borax has been added.
Judge by smell
If the food gives off a pungent odor, it could be a sign that borax has been added. In addition, if the flavor of the food is too strong or too bland, this may also be a sign that borax has been added.
It is judged by checking the ingredient list of the food
If a food contains ingredients such as "borax" or "sodium tetraborate", then the food contains borax. In addition, if the food contains other unknown chemical components, this may also be a sign that borax has been added.
07
The doctor reminded: These 3 kinds of meat, no matter how much you love to eat, you must keep your mouth shut
Processed meat
Processed meats are often cured, smoked, or fried, and although they have a unique taste, they contain a lot of salt and fat, and long-term consumption of processed meat can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
barbecue
Barbecue is one of the favorite delicacies of many people, but it also contains certain carcinogens, which mainly come from the smoke and charred meat produced during the barbecue process.
Therefore, we should try to avoid over-scorching the meat when grilling, and at the same time pay attention to ventilation to avoid inhaling harmful substances.
Fried chicken
Although fried chicken is delicious, it contains a lot of fat and salt, and long-term consumption of fried chicken may lead to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure. Therefore, we should minimize the intake of fried chicken and choose a healthy way of cooking.
08
Read more: What should I do if I have borax poisoning?
1. The patient should be sent to the hospital for professional treatment as soon as possible, and some emergency measures should be taken to alleviate the symptoms.
2. It is crucial to ensure that the patient immediately stops contact with borax, as continued exposure may aggravate the symptoms of poisoning.
3. Next, move the patient to a safe place to avoid them continuing to inhale borax or ingesting substances containing borax.
4. It is necessary to take vomiting measures as soon as possible, which will help reduce the body's absorption of borax and reduce the symptoms of poisoning, but it should be noted that if the patient has lost consciousness or has difficulty breathing, he should immediately stop vomiting and seek professional medical help.
5. To keep the patient's airway open and ensure that they can breathe normally, if necessary, oxygen equipment can be used to provide additional oxygen support.