Six departments rectify the abuse of food additives: focus on cracking down on illegal additions such as "one drop of fragrance"
Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and other six departments jointly issued a notice to carry out special rectification actions for the abuse of food additives nationwide, focusing on cracking down on illegal additions such as "one drop of fragrance" and "clenbuterol" to ensure the "safety on the tongue" of the people. This action has attracted widespread attention from the society and has become one of the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Background and focus of special rectification actions
With the frequent occurrence of food safety issues, illegal food additives have become an important hidden danger that endangers public health. According to statistics, in the first half of 2023, a total of 12,000 illegal food addition cases were investigated and dealt with nationwide, an increase of 15% from the same period last year. The joint action of the six departments focuses on three major areas:
| Areas of rectification | Key issues | Typical cases |
|---|---|---|
| Catering Services | Abuse of fragrance enhancers, bleaches | "A drop of fragrance" pretends to be soup |
| Meat products | Illegal use of "clenbuterol" | Illegal medication in the breeding process |
| Internet celebrity food | Use pigments beyond the range | Candies and drinks are extremely bright in color |
2. Analysis of the popularity data of the entire network in the past 10 days
Through monitoring of social media and news platforms, the topic of food additives has shown explosive growth in the past 10 days. The relevant discussions mainly focus on three aspects: food safety, health risks and regulatory effectiveness.
| platform | Related topics | Peak heat | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128,000 items | July 15 | "A drop of fragrance" harm | |
| Tik Tok | 56,000 items | July 18 | Food identification method |
| Zhihu | 3200 questions | July 20 | Additive safety standards |
III. Hazards and Identification of Illegal Additives
Illegal food additives may cause serious harm to the human body. Long-term intake of flavor enhancers such as "one drop of fragrance" may cause liver damage, while "clenbuterol" may cause nervous system symptoms such as palpitations and muscle tremors. Consumers can initially identify problematic foods through the following characteristics:
1. Cooked food with an extremely strong and long-lasting smell
2. Pickled foods that are too bright in color
3. Processed foods with abnormally extended shelf life
4. Regulatory measures and public response
This special action adopts the "online and offline linkage" method, focusing on inspecting food production enterprises, farmers' markets, online catering platforms, etc. As of July 20, more than 2,300 illegal cases have been investigated and dealt with, and 56,000 kilograms of problematic food have been removed.
| area | Check the company | Discover problems | Rectification measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| East China | 12,000 homes | From 480 | Order rectification + fine |
| South China | 8,000 houses | From 360 | Product removal + case filing |
| North China | 15,000 homes | From 620 | Business closure and rectification + exposure |
The public generally supports this rectification campaign. A Weibo survey showed that 87% of respondents believed that "the regulation should be strengthened" and 65% of consumers said that "will pay more attention to the food ingredients list."
5. Expert suggestions and future prospects
Food safety experts recommend establishing a "blacklist" system and imposing an industry ban on companies that have repeatedly violated the law. At the same time, improve the full-chain traceability system of "farmland to dining table" and use big data technology to improve supervision efficiency. It is expected that in the next three months, the food additive standards will usher in a new round of revisions, further refining the scope of use and limited standards.
This special rectification is not only a blow to illegal acts, but also a standardized upgrade to the food industry. Through the joint efforts of government supervision, corporate self-discipline and public supervision, a safer food consumption environment is expected to be built.
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