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Recently, CCTV exposed the "fake yuba" circulating in the market, which is not only very different from the real yuba in taste and color, but more seriously, they may contain harmful industrial chemicals.
As a type of soy product, yuba is supposed to be made by the natural drying process of soybeans or soy milk after solidification, but these fake yuba are stirred with various chemical additives and raw materials that have not been verified for safety, and long-term consumption may lead to digestive diseases, including cancer.
Food additives and food safety
Food additives themselves are an indispensable part of the modern food industry, they can improve the color, taste and shelf life of food.
When food additives are misused or misused, their potential risks increase. For example, certain preservatives and colors can be taxing on the human liver and kidneys when their use is not strictly controlled.
The public should raise awareness of the types of food additives and their possible consequences, such as avoiding the ingress of banned industrial food colourings, and paying attention to the ingredient list on food packaging to ensure the safety of the food they purchase.
The boundary between legal and illegal food production
In food production, the boundaries between legal and illegal are often reflected in whether or not national food safety standards and regulations are followed. The China Food and Drug Administration has clear regulations and standards for the use of food additives, and regular food manufacturers will strictly abide by these standards for production.
Illegal food manufacturers often use unapproved raw materials and additives in order to reduce costs, which not only infringes on the health rights of consumers, but also undermines the market order.
Consumers should pay attention to the production license number, ingredient list and relevant information of the manufacturer when purchasing, so as to judge the legality of the food.
Self-protection of consumers
In the face of a wide variety of food products on the market, it is particularly important for consumers to protect themselves. First, consumers should read food labels to obtain detailed information about the food, including the date of manufacture, expiration date, ingredient list, and whether it contains specific food additives.
Understanding the reputation of the manufacturer and the history of product quality is also an effective way to protect your own rights and interests. Relevant consumer reviews, food safety warnings and official quality inspection reports can be searched on the Internet. When choosing food products, priority should be given to those brand products with high transparency and good reputation.
Further, for soy products such as bean curd, consumers can learn basic identification skills. Real yuba has a uniform color, tough texture, and no peculiar smell, while fake yuba tends to be unnatural in color and may have a chemical smell.
Attending food safety education courses or lectures to enhance a basic understanding of food production processes and raw material sources is also an effective way to improve self-protection capabilities. According to a study in The Lancet, eating high-salt foods is one of the main factors that lead to increased blood pressure.
In Lao Liu's case, due to his preference for heavy oil and salt foods and frequent alcohol consumption, this directly led to his increasingly severe high blood pressure problems and had to increase the dosage of his medication. Reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams per day and avoiding processed foods and high-sodium foods are necessary for people with high blood pressure.
In addition to salt reduction, increasing potassium intake can also help with blood pressure control. Potassium helps balance sodium levels in the body, which lowers blood pressure. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, and oranges, among others. Moderate calcium intake also has a certain lowering effect on blood pressure, and foods such as milk and green leafy vegetables are good sources of calcium.
Case Study: Regulation and Public Awareness Growing
In the field of food safety, effective regulation is just as important as public health awareness. In the past few years, China has stepped up the enforcement of food safety regulations, continuously improved food safety standards, and cracked down on illegal food production.
These measures have improved the overall safety of food to a certain extent. At the same time, through media and public education activities, the public's awareness of food safety and self-protection ability have been improved.
The increase in public awareness is also reflected in the focus on the origin of food. With the popularity of organic and local food, more and more consumers are paying attention to how food is produced.
Organic and geographical indications have become an important basis for consumers to choose food, which not only reflects the trend of healthy eating, but also drives the food industry as a whole to become more transparent and sustainable.
Through these cases, we can see that increased regulation and increased public awareness are two indispensable elements to ensure food safety. This two-pronged strategy contributes to a safer and healthier food environment.