Summer is quietly approaching, and the spicy hot, oysters and food stalls on the roadside are booming again, attracting a large number of citizens to eat every evening. As the temperature continues to rise, food additives such as preservatives and fresheners come in handy. The New Yellow River reporter's investigation found that there are now a variety of food additives on the Internet, coloring, preservation, improving taste... The functions vary, and the price ranges from a few yuan to hundreds of yuan. It is worth mentioning that the food additives sold in many stores do not have a clear dosage standard, and the public is also worried about the safety of daily food. In this regard, some experts pointed out that China has clear rules for the use of food additives, and if it is used in strict accordance with the standard, it is safer, and it should also be severely cracked down on illegal users.
(Small) Food additives are hotly sold, and many "risk-type" additives are not clearly regulated
On May 21, a reporter from the New Yellow River searched for "food additives" on Taobao, and a large number of goods immediately popped up. Among them, the monthly sales of food additives such as "cyclamate", "potassium sorbate" and "high elastin" with high sales have exceeded 1,000. According to the feedback in its comment area, some of these products are added to milk tea to improve sweetness, some are taken to marinate chicken feet for antiseptic, and some are used to make meatballs to increase elasticity.
In addition to common food additives, flavor enhancers are also very popular. The New Yellow River reporter noted that many merchants sell additives such as "huixiang powder", "shell incense powder" and "royal rice powder", and type words such as "repeat customers are obvious" and "you can open branches with it". A merchant selling "shell incense powder" told the New Yellow River reporter that most of the purchases are roadside barbecue stall owners, "If the meat has a little taste, but it is not completely bad, use this shell incense powder to enhance the taste and cover the odor." ”
In the process of browsing the online store, the New Yellow River reporter noticed several "risky" food additives.
As early as July 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and other departments issued relevant announcements, explicitly prohibiting the addition of aluminum potassium sulfate (potassium alum) and ammonium aluminum sulfate (ammonium alum) to noodle products such as steamed buns and puffed foods (except fried flour products, batter for hanging paste, wrapped powder, and frying powder).
Nowadays, sacked aluminum sulfate potassium is sold normally in online stores, but it is not marked on the details page for use only for specific products, indicating that "it is most commonly used in the preparation of steamed buns, noodles, puffed foods, etc." After the buyer buys, it is also difficult to judge whether it will be added to products such as steamed buns. There is also a lot of space on the detail page telling buyers how to use this "food-grade" potassium aluminum sulfate to soak their feet and remove beriberi and sweat odor.
In addition, sodium dehydroacetate (sodium dehydroacetate) with antiseptic effect has a clear scope of use and dosage according to China's national food safety standard GB2760-2014 "Food Safety National Standard Food Additive Use Standard", and the rules for adding different foods are different. However, in the details page of some food ingredient stores, only the advantages of its ingredients and various uses are introduced, and the scope of food that is prohibited and the use specifications are not marked.
(Small) the use of food additives needs to be appropriate, experts: its safety lies in the use of standards
According to public information, China's food additives currently have 23 categories and more than 2,000 varieties, including acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, defoamers, nutritional enhancers, preservatives, etc., which play a greater role in the taste, appearance and storage of food. However, the "Sudan Red" incident in 2005 and the "hanging white block" incident of Longkou fans in 2006 made people have a certain fear of food additives.
In March 2020, Zhang Shouwen, former deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration of Heilongjiang Province, former vice president and professor of Harbin University of Commerce, said that the key to the safety of food additives lies in whether the "Food Safety Standards for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760)" is strictly implemented. "The use of additives in food is fearful, high degree of panic can not be necessary, as long as it is used in accordance with the provisions of GB2760, the safety of food additives is guaranteed."
Huang Xiwen, a lawyer at Shandong Zhengdu Law Firm, also said that businesses need to strictly follow relevant food safety standards. "At present, China has a relatively complete Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the Standard for the Use of Food Additives, and food processors should strictly follow the relevant specifications. In addition, consumers should also go to a clean and hygienic place to buy food, food that does not meet the standard will cause greater harm to the human body after eating. Huang Xiwen said that if food manufacturers and sellers cause food safety problems due to illegal use of additives, serious circumstances will also be investigated for criminal liability.
New Yellow River client reporter: Meng Tianyu
Intern: Shanshan Li