From Chinese Press

How to ensure food safety

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-20 09:25

Frequent food safety scandals have spread panic among many consumers. Since food items like dyed steamed buns and meat powder have food additives, some people consider their use to be at the root of all the problems, says an article in Xinmin Evening News. Excerpts:

People's misunderstanding about food additives can be attributed to their lack of proper knowledge. In fact, food additives have played an important role in the development of the food industry, and the modern food industry cannot survive without them.

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Chemicals such as melamine and Tony Red (or Sudan III) are inedible materials, not food additives, and are added to food products illegally. The misuse and/or abuse of some food additives are also to be blamed for food safety problems. But the main problem is the illegal use of additives.

The main reasons why people tend to question food safety are their mistrust of food product companies, worries about the food safety supervision system and doubts over the professional integrity of the supervisors. Only by improving the legal system and executive capacity can public mistrust be eliminated.

The Ministry of Health recently issued the standards for use of food additives, according to which the additives used in a product should be mentioned clearly on the package to honor the public's right to information.

Investigation to unearth illegal practices after a scandal breaks out is a remedial measure, when what we need is precaution and prevention, for which strict routine supervision is required. That makes supervisors' role very important. Perhaps attaching food safety issues to officials' political achievements would help improve the situation.