There are 25 non-detection methods in the black list of food additives

The “black list” of non-edible substances and food additives still needs to be completed. The Ministry of Health recently re-announced “List of Food Additives that May Be Infringed by Non-edible Substances and Food Additives That May Be Misused”, and announced corresponding testing methods. However, the reporter found that a certain number of illegally added non-edible substances or abuse of food additives detection method is not available. Food safety experts said that the detection method will continue to improve, but at the same time pointed out that "process management" is the most critical.

The list of non-edible substances and food additives released by the Ministry of Health includes a total of 47 "non-edible substances illegally added" and 22 "abusive food additive varieties". The Ministry of Health had made it clear on March 1 this year that the 47 kinds of non-edible substances announced were not food additives. "For a long time, some units have confused the boundaries between food additives and non-edible substances and will engage in illegal and criminal activities. The addition of non-edible substances (such as Sudan Red, etc.) to foods is called an additive, and food safety caused by adding non-edible substances will be added. The incident boils down to the misuse of food additives, which has deepened public misconceptions about food additives," the Ministry of Health pointed out.

The reporter saw on the list that the list clearly distinguishes “non-edible substances that may be illegally added in foods” from “food additives that may be abused in food”, such as hanging white cakes, Sudan red, and melamine, which have caused major food The "protagonist" of a security incident is actually an illegal addition, not a food additive. The Ministry of Health clearly stipulates that in the case of yuba, vermicelli, flour and other foods, if it is illegally added to hang white pieces, it can be detected by GB/T 21126-2007 "Determination of Formaldehyde Sulfosulfuric Acid in Wheat Flour and Rice Flour and Their Products". The test may also be performed using the "Measurement on the Test Method for Printing and Flour, Determination of Benzoyl Peroxide in Oils and Fats" (Wei Jian Fa [2001] No. 159) Attachment 2 ".

For Sudan, which may be illegally added to chili powder and chili-containing foods, there is also a detection method: GB/T 19681-2005 "Determination of Sudan dyes in foods by high performance liquid chromatography".

The method of detection is yet to be determined. However, the reporter also found that a certain number of non-edible substances that may be illegally added or the detection methods of food additives that are easily misused are not available. Among the 47 kinds of non-food substances that may be illegally added, 25 substances are blank or “none” in the test method column. Of the 22 abuse-prone food additives, 12 were blank or “none” in the test method column.

The Ministry of Health also stated that it is necessary to develop measurement methods for some substances. For example, in response to bleaching agents that may be illegally added to bakery products, the Ministry of Health stated that it is necessary to develop a method for the determination of thiourea trioxide in filling materials. For the illegal addition of Acid Orange II to foods such as red shell melon seeds, pepper noodles, and bean paste, the Ministry of Health also expressed the need to develop a method for the determination of Acid Orange II in foods. However, the Ministry of Health also pointed out that it is possible to refer to the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry of the Acidic Orange II in Baochi, which was established by the disease control of Jiangsu Province. It also shows that the water washing method can be used as a supplement. If it is discolored, it may be suspected that the pigment is added illegally.

Experts: The key is "Process Management"

Professor Zeng Qingxiao, a professor from Guangdong South China University of Technology and deputy chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Food Safety Expert Committee, told reporters yesterday that for substances that lack detection methods, they can be checked during on-site inspections, such as the use of records, etc., but also Look for alternatives. "The country will also develop and reintroduce (test method)."

Although Chen Junshi, director of the China Food Additives Standardization Technical Committee and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, also stated that the testing method will be further improved, he stressed that this is not a fundamental principle. “Food safety is not controlled by inspections but detected by process management.” He took dairy products as an example and pointed out that there are a large number of possible illegal additives or abuse of food additives involved in dairy products. If it is necessary to carry out tests, it will take more cost and time, which is unrealistic.

The reporter learned that for the supervision of small workshops, the division of functions of various departments is not clear. The “Food Safety Law” stipulates that food production and processing workshops and food vendors are engaged in food production and operation activities, and should ensure that the food they produce and operate is hygienic, non-toxic, and harmless. However, the specific management measures are formulated by local governments according to law, and up till now, As an example, Guangdong Province has not yet introduced such a set of regulations.