June 7, 2012 (Uho Health Network Reporter Tan Yongyong / Comprehensive Report)

Statistics show that the global food industry generates up to $20 billion annually from food additives, with the average person consuming 6 to 7 kilograms of additives per year. For an office worker who eats out for all three meals daily, they may ingest over 70 types of additives each day. Even some legal additives can pose risks if consumed long-term, making food additives less safe than imagined.

Toxicology expert Lin Jieliang stated that although many food additives are legal, long-term consumption can still impact health. For example, bactericides (hydrogen peroxide) are often added to wet noodles, dried tofu, fish balls, and processed fish products. If food contains 3% residual hydrogen peroxide, it may cause acute gastroenteritis symptoms such as palpitations, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Since hydrogen peroxide has a boiling point as high as 152°C, it remains in food even after cooking.

Bleaching agents (sulfur dioxide, sulfites) are used in foods like enoki mushrooms, button mushrooms, lotus roots, and lotus seeds. Lin Jieliang noted that while most people can excrete sulfites, asthma patients may experience allergic reactions. Excessive intake can lead to breathing difficulties, diarrhea, and vomiting. Sulfur dioxide is a reducing bleaching agent that can restore colored substances when oxidized, producing a strong bleaching effect. It is also commonly used to prevent wine from molding. Nutritionist Chen Yijing suggested a simple method to remove sulfur dioxide: boiling food in 100°C water for 5 minutes can eliminate about 90% of residual toxins.

Common food preservatives, such as benzoic acid and formaldehyde, may affect liver function if consumed excessively or over a long period. Preservatives like sorbic acid and benzoic acid often trigger allergic reactions in children (such as atopic dermatitis, asthma attacks, with skin allergies being the most common). For young children, exposure to benzoic acid is particularly undesirable. Animal studies have shown that both can cause loss of appetite. "Benzoates," added to many snacks, can easily lead to growth delays, requiring extra attention from parents. Pregnant women should also choose foods carefully for the sake of their unborn babies and try to avoid preservative-laden products as much as possible.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E6……2% B7% E8% 82% 9D- 060000615. html;_ylt=AlxuNAj_q2JYeLZiMYnxW6XfBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTNyaDRhYjFuBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBIZWFsdGhTRgRwa2cDMGVjY2YxZmItYjE2NC0zMDhiLWE2N2EtZGY0ZDdlYjM2ZGFlBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzBhMDUyZTUwLWIwNjYtMTFlMS1iZjczLTJlOTE2OGZiYjAzMw--;_ylg=X3oDMTFqNDJvbDk5BGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0AwRwdANzZWN0aW9ucw--;_ylv=3