In order to make food achieve better color, taste and properties, it is inevitable to use some additives, common preservatives, pigments, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, flavors and so on.
Colorants are also known as pigments, generally divided into natural pigments and synthetic pigments, common natural pigments are pepper red, curcumin, annatto, red yeast red and so on.
At present, China allows the use of about 40 kinds of natural pigments, in the process of purifying natural pigments may be adulterated with other ingredients, or changes to produce harmful ingredients, so natural pigments must also be evaluated for safety can be applied to food, and are also limited standards, safety will be more secure than synthetic pigments.
Synthetic pigments are organic pigments prepared from coal tar by synthetic methods, or synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbon compounds such as benzene and naphthalene. Synthetic pigments are stable in nature, strong in coloring, can be arbitrarily colored, the cost is relatively low, easy to use, so it is widely used.
Common amaranth red, carmine, lemon yellow, sunset yellow, bright blue, indigo, temptation red and so on with these colors, it is easy to distinguish. The potential hazard of synthetic pigments is the potential to produce harmful substances during metabolism and to be contaminated with arsenic, lead or other harmful compounds during production. Foreign studies have shown that artificial pigments increase the likelihood of ADHD in children. For infants and young children within 3 years of age, of course, it is better to choose foods with less processing and less chemical food additives.
The sweeteners commonly used in food are food raw materials, such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc., and some belong to food additives, there are natural sweeteners with sugar alcohols, and common synthetic aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin and so on.
Preservatives are items that prevent food from spoiling and prolong the shelf life of food. Common in the ingredient list are benzoic acid (sodium benzoate), sorbic acid (potassium sorbate), there are currently more than 30 kinds of preservatives that can be used in China, most of which are synthetic, and China strictly stipulates the maximum amount of preservatives used in applicable foods to ensure safety while achieving the purpose of preservatives. There are some adverse reactions to infants with underdeveloped immune systems or people who are sensitive to benzoic acid, such as asthma or measles, and in severe cases, metabolic acidosis and convulsions.
China's current national standards for food additives are set based on adults weighing 60kg, and there is no limit standard for children's food additives, if children eat products containing excessive additives, the impact on their health is greater than that of adults, because children's detoxification function, immune system has not yet developed.
Food additives do not bring any nutritional value, and the fewer types in the ingredient list, the better. If you eat a large amount for a long time, it may reduce children's immunity, affect growth and development, and damage health. At present, the use of food additives for children under 12 years of age is in line with the standards of infant food supplements, and preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners, etc. are not allowed.