Many people think that food additives are not good things, and hope to "zero additives". In fact, some foods are more dangerous if they do not use food additives. There are many types of additives. Food additives are only one of them. In addition, they also include concrete additives, plastic additives, paint additives, etc., and the classification is different and the purpose is different. Food grade sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium pyrophosphate in the phosphate can retain moisture, etc. These additives are allowed to be used in the "National Food Safety Standards for the Use of Food Additives" and have undergone safety assessments, and will not be harmful to the body.

Forbidden substances illegally added to food are mistaken for food additives, making food additives "scapegoat". Today, let everyone spread some common sense about food additives.

1. Is the separation between food additives and illegal additives unclear?

According to the provisions of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China: Food additives refer to artificial or natural substances added to food for the purpose of improving food quality and color, aroma and taste, as well as for the needs of anti-corrosion, preservation and processing technology. Food additives are closely related to daily life. You can see various food additives such as food-grade sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, etc. in your favorite snacks, beverages, and cooking oil, salt, and seasonings used for cooking every day. Its biggest function is to extend the storage period of food and ensure food safety.

2. Are "natural food additives" superior to "synthetic food additives"?

This statement is not entirely accurate. Some synthetic food additives do not participate in metabolism in the body and are quickly excreted from the body. And some natural food additives may reduce the safety due to pollution caused by raw material processing, so it cannot be absolute.

In fact, the key to using food additives is the "dose-effect relationship." Any kind of food additive is safe and necessary to use in the specified range and amount. Taking sodium hexametaphosphate as an example, the dosage in food: generally 0.3-0.5%, 0.9% in cheese; 0.3% in meat; 0.5% in milk powder, cream powder, quick-frozen fish, and shrimp; 0.2% in condensed milk and beverages.

3. Can food additives be added to food unconditionally?

Of course not. Legal and regulated use is the key point. In order to protect the health of consumers, the International Codex Alimentarius Commission has established a globally unified food additive food safety evaluation system and use standards. Food-grade sodium hexametaphosphate manufacturers from the raw material side need to have food-grade related production qualifications, and have a strict set of system standards for transportation and storage.

Based on this system and standards, the Chinese government has established a food additive safety evaluation method and the "National Food Safety Standard Food Additive Use Standard", and implements strict, continuous and dynamic management of food additives to ensure the "safety on the tip of the tongue" of the people.