Safeguarding 17 kinds of colorants for cold foods

On April 6 this year, the Ministry of Health issued a notice to revoke 38 kinds of food additives, of which 17 were colorants. Many users worried that the cold drinks market would be “shadowed”. However, after a lapse of three months, the reporter visited the Shanghai market, but found that the color of the cold drink was still “colorful” and sales were still hot, without any influence from the “ban.”

On the morning of the 12th, the reporter saw at a convenience store's cold drink counter that a green bean ice cream contained three kinds of caramel, turmeric, and bright blue pigments. In addition, the color of a strawberry stick ice was as many as five: caramel color, Rouge orange, beet red, temptation red, sunset yellow, even if it is a seemingly white vanilla ice cream, the ingredients are also added lemon yellow and sunset yellow two colors. A dozen cold drinks in a freezer, almost no one dared to claim that they do not use pigment. The idea of ​​making cold drinks colorful is intended to promote sales, but consumers generally feel a bit worried.

As the “prohibition” of the Ministry of Health was still in the consultation stage and was not formally implemented, the various cold drinks sold on the market did not fade. However, many citizens have expressed the hope that the relevant departments can regulate and control food additives more strictly.

The reporter learned that there are currently 63 kinds of artificial synthetic and natural pigments that the country is allowed to use. There are 17 kinds of colorants that are proposed to be revoked in the notice. The remaining colorants can be used to produce more abundant colors. However, there are Strict stress. Taking “mung bean” as an example, three colors of caramel, turmeric, and brilliant blue are required to bring out the corresponding colors. Using other pigment substitutions may not necessarily achieve the same effect, and the cost is also higher. The quality supervision department also stated that for the health of consumers, once the policy is formally introduced, it will increase supervision.