In modern society, food safety has always been the focus of public attention.
Recently, a shocking case once again reminded us that even seemingly ordinary homemade food,
There may also be huge hidden health risks.
As a pediatrician, I came across such a harrowing case in my clinical practice.
Ms. Li is a mother who loves cooking, and she often makes various delicacies for her family, especially steamed buns, which are popular with children.
Recently, however, her home's air detector suddenly issued a warning that formaldehyde was exceeding.
Ms. Li and her husband were very confused because they did not have an obvious source of formaldehyde in their home.
After some investigation, they were surprised to find that when the detector approached the freshly made steamed buns,
Formaldehyde levels soared to about 38 times the safe value.
Pediatrician (me): Ms. Li, you mentioned that the air detector at home shows that the steamed bread contains a high concentration of formaldehyde.
This is indeed very rare, but it also reminds us of the importance of food safety.
Can you tell me what the ingredients and process of making your steamed buns are?
Ms. Li: I use ordinary flour, water and yeast to make steamed buns in the usual way.
I didn't add anything else and didn't use any materials that could contain formaldehyde.
Pediatrician (me): It's really weird. Formaldehyde is a toxic substance,
Long-term exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde can lead to serious health problems, including leukemia.
Have you recently purchased new flour or other ingredients?
Ms. Li: I recently switched to flour from a supplier because the price is cheaper. Could it be that there is something wrong with this flour?
Pediatrician (me): It's quite possible. Some low-quality flours may have been illegally added with formaldehyde in the production process,
to extend shelf life or improve appearance. This illegal addition is extremely harmful to the human body.
Formaldehyde hazards and food safety
Toxicity of formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and long-term exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde may lead to respiratory diseases, skin allergies, and even leukemia.
Sources of formaldehyde in food:
In order to pursue profits, some unscrupulous businesses may illegally add formaldehyde to food, such as low-quality flour and noodles.
How to identify and avoid:
Consumers should choose reputable brands and suppliers and avoid buying food products that are unusually cheap.
At the same time, food testing can be carried out through formal channels to ensure food safety.
How to protect your family from formaldehyde hazards
In response to this family's case, I offer the following suggestions to protect your family from formaldehyde:
Choosing a Quality Food Supplier:
It is advisable to immediately replace the current flour supplier and choose a brand with a good market reputation and certification to ensure the safety and quality of food ingredients.
Implementation of food testing:
Encourage regular testing of purchased foods, especially those that may contain formaldehyde, such as flour, noodles, etc.
You can use professional food testing tools or commission a third-party laboratory to conduct testing.
Indoor Air Quality Monitoring:
It is recommended to use high-precision air detection instruments to regularly monitor the air quality in your home.
Especially in the kitchen area, in order to detect and deal with formaldehyde exceedances in a timely manner.
Periodic Health Assessment:
Family members are advised to have regular comprehensive health check-ups, including blood tests and other relevant tests,
for early detection and treatment of health problems associated with formaldehyde exposure.
Enhance food safety awareness:
It is recommended to strengthen food safety education for family members to improve their awareness and prevention of potentially harmful substances in food.
Make sure they are able to make informed food choices in their daily lives.
Summary and Recommendations
This family's case reminds us that food safety cannot be overlooked, even if it is a seemingly simple homemade food,
It can also be a health hazard.
As a pediatrician, I strongly recommend that all families, when buying and consuming food,
We must strictly abide by food safety regulations and protect our families from harmful substances.
At the same time, I also hope that the government and relevant departments can strengthen the supervision of food production and sales.
Crack down on the illegal addition of harmful substances to ensure the public's food safety.
Finally, I hope that every reader can learn from this case,
From today onwards, take responsibility for your own health and check the safety of your family, so that our dining table is safer and warmer.
With these comprehensive protective measures, households can significantly reduce the risk of formaldehyde exposure and improve overall health.
It is important that each family member works with their doctor to develop an individualized protection and management plan based on their specific situation.