Food additive sampling failed! Important reminder: 5 kinds of additives may harm the human body, eat less

Recently, the General Administration of Market Supervision organized food safety supervision and sampling inspections, and took 658 batches of samples of 27 major categories of food, and finally found that 13 batches of samples of 9 major categories of food were unqualified.

The reasons for failure mainly include: excessive addition of food additives, excessive residues of veterinary drugs, microbial contamination , etc. Among them, the issue of food additives is particularly prominent.

What is the effect of food additives on the human body? Is the high incidence of cancer in China related to food additives? Today, Xiao Jiu will explain everything clearly to everyone.

Picture website of the State Administration for Market Regulation

1. Nearly 97% of food contains additives, and the Chinese eat the most additives?

A data shows that about 97% of the food of contemporary people cannot be separated from "additives", and the "family" of additives is very large, with more than 2,000 "members". So, what exactly are additives?

Simply put, a food additive is a substance added to improve the taste, color and freshness of food .

In terms of types, it can be roughly divided into 22 categories, such as preservatives (such as potassium sorbate, sulfur dioxide, etc.), coloring agents (such as carmine, tartrazine, etc.). In China's food additive catalog, there are more than 2,000 kinds of food additives, including natural food additives and synthetic chemical products.

There is a saying that "Chinese people eat the most additives, and the reason why China has a high incidence of cancer is because they eat too many additives", is it true or not?

In this regard, Zhong Kai, deputy director of Kexin Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Center, explained: Chinese are the countries with the largest production of food additives in the world, but the amount of consumption is not necessarily, because a large part is exported to European and American markets , developed countries The intake of food additives in countries and regions is relatively high in non-developed countries.

At present, all the food additives approved for use in China are safe , so as long as they meet the national standards and use food additives in strict accordance with the varieties and dosages stipulated by the state, there is no need to worry about being toxic or carcinogenic.

2. Will "zero additives" and "homemade food" be healthier?

Some people think that food additives are added to most foods sold outside, so they will be more inclined to buy foods labeled "zero additives" or choose homemade foods, but in fact these seemingly safe foods also have hidden dangers. with health risks.

At present, there are roughly two types of foods that claim "zero additives" on the market. One is that additives are allowed but not added;

Let's look at the first one. Every legal additive has its own meaning, such as preservatives, to prevent food from deteriorating quickly. Without it, if the food cannot be eaten at one time, it may lead to the growth of microorganisms and bring hidden dangers to health.

The second case is false propaganda, so it is another matter. Therefore, what determines food safety and nutrition is not whether to add additives, but whether to add them in a standardized and reasonable manner .

For those foods that are made at home, because the temperature, sterilization and other process conditions cannot be guaranteed, carelessness may cause bacterial contamination, and eating contaminated food is very detrimental to health.

3. These 5 food additives may be harmful to the human body, try to stay away from them

Although formal food additives are harmless to the human body, a small number of unscrupulous merchants may add excessive food additives to food for taste and other factors, which is extremely harmful to human health, such as children's snacks, food for pregnant women, etc.

If such food additives are consumed, liver and kidney functions may be affected, especially for immature children and pregnant women and nursing mothers in special physiological stages . Therefore, everyone should be vigilant when purchasing, especially the following types, overdose is not good for human health:

1. Sodium saccharin

It is a kind of synthetic sweetener, which is very common. It is often used in cold drinks, jellies, popsicles and other foods. This substance is not easily absorbed in the human body. However, excessive intake may affect the normal secretion of gastrointestinal digestive enzymes, reduce the absorption capacity of the small intestine, and reduce appetite.

2. Vanillin

It is mostly used in dairy products, baked goods and other spiced foods that need to increase the aroma of milk. If 0-6 months of infant formula, no edible spices should be added. If a large amount of this substance is added, it may cause dizziness, nausea and other discomforts, and may cause liver and kidney damage in severe cases.

3. Benzoic acid and its sodium salt

It is a kind of preservative, which can inhibit mold, yeast and bacteria very well. It can be used in food such as soy sauce . The maximum usage limit is 1.0g/kg. If it is added in excess, it may cause cumulative liver poisoning.

4. Bright blue

It is a synthetic coloring agent, which is often used in preserved fruit preserves and other foods. The maximum dosage is 0.025g/kg. If this additive is added in excess, there may be risks of teratogenic and carcinogenic.

5. Amaranth

It is also a kind of synthetic coloring agent, and can also be used in foods such as candied preserved fruits . The maximum dosage is 0.05g/kg. If it is added in excess, it may cause teratogenic and carcinogenic risks.

Summary: Food additives have their meaning. With them, we can eat food with good taste, good shape and good color.

Therefore, we should look at food additives rationally. As long as food additives are used legally, there is no threat to health, so you don’t need to worry too much.

References:

[1] "Notice of the General Administration of Market Supervision on 13 batches of food sampling unqualified". Website of the State Administration of Market Supervision. 2022-04-29

[2] "Zero additives" is the standard for measuring good food? What did food additives do wrong? Life Times. 2018-08-30

[3] "Don't buy it! A Variety of Snacks Are Officially Named". Popular Science China 2022-05-06

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