Detection of illegal additives and other harmful substances in food

1.
Illegal food additives are not food additives

The "GB2760-2011 National Food Safety Standard Food Additives Use Standard" stipulates that "food additives should meet the following basic requirements when used: they should not cause any health hazards to the human body; they should not cover up food spoilage and deterioration; and should not cover up the food itself or the processing process.
Food additives are used for the purpose of adulteration, adulteration, or forgery; the nutritional value of the food itself should not be reduced; the amount of use in the food should be reduced as much as possible on the premise of achieving the expected purpose
.

It can be seen from the above that chemical substances such as melamine , Sudan red, and white lump obviously do not meet the principles of using food additives
.

To determine whether a substance is an illegal additive, you can refer to the following principles: it does not belong to the traditionally considered food raw materials, does not belong to the new resource food approved for use, does not belong to the dual-use food and medicine announced by the Ministry of Health or is managed as a general food Substances that are not listed in China’s food additives and other substances permitted by China’s laws and regulations
.

2.
Harm of illegal additives and other harmful substances

Take melamine , Sudan red, hanging white block, plasticizer (DEHP), acrylamide and benzo[a] Zhi as examples
.

1.
Using fake protein as a fake-melamine

Melamine is a triazine nitrogen-containing heterocyclic organic compound produced with urea as a raw material, referred to as "triamine", commonly known as melamine and protein essence.
It is mainly used to produce melamine resin, which is used to make decorative panels, amino plastics, and adhesives.
Chemicals, coatings, and paper, textile, leather and other industries
.

2.
"Sultan Red" in the beautiful food

Sudan is an azo dye chemical synthesis series, are widely used credit solvents, oils, waxes and the like enriched shoes, flooring and the like
.

In February 2005, the largest food recall in British history was caused by Sudan Red.
In the recall, millions of food items from 359 brands in major British food supermarkets and stores were removed from the shelves
.

3.
The black hand who makes food "white terror"-hanging white pieces

Hanging white block is also called hanging white powder or carved white block (powder).
Its chemical name is sodium sulfoxylate formaldehyde.
It has strong reducing and bleaching effects at high temperatures
.

4.
Malicious environmental hormones-plasticizers

Plasticizer DEHP, also known as plasticizer, is a polymer material additive widely used in industry.
It can increase ductility, elasticity and softness.
It is often used as a raw material for sofas, car seats, rubber tubes, cosmetics and toys.
Belongs to industrial additives
.

The role of plasticizers is similar to artificial hormones
.

5.
The invisible killer under the temptation of delicious taste-acrylamide and benzo[a] acrylamide (AA), also known as "acrylamide", is an organic compound, mainly used in the production of plastic products and coatings, Rubber and other industries
.
The acrylamide in food is not caused by addition, but is produced by foods rich in carbohydrates through high-temperature cooking processes such as frying, grilling, and baking
.
Acrylamide-rich foods are french fries, potato chips, popcorn, coffee, biscuits, bread, cakes, fried chicken and so on
.
Because acrylamide has potential neurotoxicity, genetic toxicity and carcinogenicity, the pollution of acrylamide in food has attracted great attention from the international community and governments
.

Benzo[a]pyrene [benzo(a)pyrene] is referred to as B[a]P, also known as 3,4-benzostilbene
.
It is a class of organic compounds containing multiple benzene rings
.
The main sources of benzo[a]pyrene in food are as follows: First, the process of smoking and baking of food
.
Including the pollution caused by direct contact of benzo[a]pyrene in smoke and dust and the high-temperature pyrolysis and thermal polymerization of fat and other ingredients in food
.
Second, the benzo[a]pyrene contained in some equipment pipes and packaging materials in the processing links contaminates food
.
The third is that benzo[a]pyrene contained in industrial waste water and waste gas accumulates in food through the food chain
.
Benzo[a], aflatoxin and nitrosamine are the three major cancer substances recognized internationally
.
At present, diseases caused by food pollution have become one of the most concerned food safety issues in the world, and the incidence of food-borne diseases has risen to the second place in the total incidence of various diseases, of which benzo[a]pyrene pollution is the most Common and widespread
.

3.
Detection methods for illegal additives and other harmful substances

The detection methods for illegal additives and other harmful substances include thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
.
In recent years, with the deepening of research, some new rapid detection methods have emerged, such as derivative constant energy synchronous fluorescence method, rapid fingerprint screening of illegal food additives, and isotope detection technology
.
However, there are still many illegal additives in the "blacklist" that have no detection methods yet, and the relevant national detection standards are to be further established and improved
.