The National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center recently applied for an investigation into a company. A request for advice on the maximum amount of propylene glycol to be used in wet pasta products has raised questions among some experts.
Xie Huamin, a former senior engineer at the Standards and Quality Center of the State Grain Administration, submitted an opinion, believing that the expanded use of propylene glycol violates the “reduce the use of food additives as much as possible” The basic principles of the project lack “comprehensive social effect evaluation”. Some experts pointed out that companies should reduce the use of food additives as much as possible if they can adopt other physical processes to achieve the same effect.
Enterprises apply to increase usage
June On the 7th, the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center issued a request for opinions on administrative licensing, saying that due to process necessity considerations, a company “applied to expand the maximum usage amount of propylene glycol in wet and wet noodle products from 1.5g/kg to 20g/kg.” kg”.
According to current national standards, propylene glycol is allowed to be used as a food additive in wet and raw noodle products such as noodles and dumpling wrappers, with a maximum dosage of 1.5g/kg. The maximum usage amount in pastries is 3.0g/kg, and its functions are stabilizer, coagulant, moisture retaining agent, etc. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that when the intake of propylene glycol reaches or approaches a lethal dose (more than 6 grams/kg body weight), it has been found in some experiments that it may cause kidney damage in animals. It is generally considered safe for the human body if used within limited limits.
On July 6, a staff member of the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center revealed to the Beijing News reporter that the opinion is currently in the final stage and will be followed up. Expert reviews will be organized. The staff member said it was inconvenient to disclose the applicant company.
In fact, as early as 2013, some companies applied to expand the maximum usage of propylene glycol to 20g/kg, and used experiments to prove the necessity. According to Zhu Yi, associate professor at the School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, the company made this request mainly to meet the needs of the industrialization of staple foods. It was believed that the use standard of 1.5g/kg of propylene glycol was not enough to ensure the shelf life of the product, so it needed to be expanded. to 20g/kg, but this application has not been approved by the relevant departments.
Zhu Yi believes that “the current maximum usage of propylene glycol in domestic wet noodle products is 1.5g/kg, which should be at a medium level internationally. “At present, the European Union stipulates that the maximum content of propylene glycol in food is 3g/kg, and the maximum content of beverages and cream liqueurs is 1g/kg; the Japan Food Chemistry Research Foundation stipulates that the addition limit of propylene glycol in wet noodles is 2.0%.
Experts recommend limiting or even banning propylene glycol
During this opinion collection process, Xie Huamin, a former senior engineer at the Standards and Quality Center of the State Grain Administration, raised objections and submitted them to the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center on July 4.
“. Raw and wet flour products, especially wet noodles, are the staple food of the public, and their safety importance is not comparable to that of ordinary foods. Therefore, it is recommended to completely reject the attempt to increase the use of propylene glycol and consider completely banning propylene glycol.
Xie Huamin also explained to the Beijing News reporter that the current technical assessment is to evaluate the technical necessity and safety of using the additive, but it completely lacks “comprehensive” “Social Effect Evaluation”, the phenomenon of abuse has been turned a blind eye.
Zhu Yi also believes that “increasing the use of propylene glycol is the lowest cost”, which is why companies want to modify the standards. However, if a company can adopt other physical methods to achieve the same moisturizing effect, such as vacuum kneading, improving packaging, etc., it should reduce the use of food additives as much as possible. Once an increase in maximum usage is approved, some businesses may add to this limit, to the detriment of consumers.
In recent years, some domestic companies have been investigated and punished for excessive use of propylene glycol. In September 2013, the Qingdao Municipal Food Safety Office reported that the Yicho Ramen, Yicho Fresh Sliced Noodles, Chicken Bone Soup Ramen, Beijing Fried Soup Noodles, and Yicho Pork Bone Soup Ramen produced by Weihai Yicho Food Co., Ltd. each have 1 The batch of propylene glycol exceeded the standard, exceeding the prescribed limit by 4-6 times, and the products in question were all removed from the shelves.
Introduction to propylene glycol:
According to the supply of propylene glycol Understand: Propylene glycol is an organic compound (diol), usually a slightly sweet, odorless, colorless and transparent oily liquid that absorbs moisture and is easily mixed with water, acetone, and chloroform.
1. Properties:
1. Flammable liquid. It is hygroscopic and non-corrosive to metals. It reacts with dibasic acid to form polyester, reacts with nitric acid to form nitrate ester, and reacts with hydrochloric acid to form chlorohydrin. Heating with dilute sulfuric acid at 170°C converts it into propionaldehyde. Oxidation with nitric acid or chromic acid produces glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, etc. Reacts with aldehydes to form acetal. Dehydration of 1,2-propanediol produces �Polypropylene or polyethylene glycol.
2. The toxicity and irritation are very small, and no victims have been found so far. In rats, LD507000~8000mg/kg was administered intravenously and intraperitoneally, and LD502800mg/kg was administered orally. However, there are also reports that when too high a dose is added to food and beverages, it may cause fatal drowsiness and kidney disorders.
3. Exist in tobacco leaves and smoke.
Usage:
Propylene glycol has good viscosity and hygroscopicity, and is non-toxic. Therefore, it is widely used as hygroscopic agent, antifreeze, lubricant and solvent in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The specific uses in various industries are as follows:
Plastics industry: Propylene glycol is an important raw material for unsaturated polyester, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, plasticizers, and surfactants. The amount used in this area accounts for about 45% of the total consumption of propylene glycol. This unsaturated polyester is used in large quantities. Used in surface coatings and reinforced plastics.
In the food industry: In the food industry, propylene glycol reacts with fatty acids to form propylene glycol fatty acid esters, which are mainly used as food emulsifiers; propylene glycol is a condiment and pigment It is an excellent solvent that can dissolve food additives that are difficult to dissolve in water, such as preservatives, pigments, and antioxidants, and then add them to food. It has strong hygroscopicity and has moisturizing and anti-freezing effects on food. Our country stipulates that it can be used in pastries, and the maximum usage amount is 3.0g/kg.
Pharmaceutical industry: Propylene glycol is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a solvent, softener and excipient in the manufacture of various ointments and ointments, and is also used to prepare Solvent for mixtures, preservatives, ointments, vitamins, penicillin, etc.
Cosmetics industry: Since propylene glycol has good mutual solubility with various spices, it is also used as a solvent and softener in cosmetics, etc. It can be combined with glycerin or Sorbitol is used together as a wetting agent.
Tobacco industry: Propylene glycol is used as tobacco humidifier, antifungal agent, food processing equipment lubricant and food marking ink solvent. Aqueous solutions of propylene glycol are effective antifreeze agents. It is also used as tobacco wetting agent, antifungal agent, fruit ripening preservative, antifreeze and heat carrier, etc.
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