What are the health hazards of sulfur dioxide residues in food?

In the process of food production and processing, there is a sulfur -containing food additive that is often used as bleaching agents and preservatives, including sulfur, sodium sulfate, sodium coke sulfate, and sodium low sodium sulfate. This sulfur -containing food additive is usually partially residial in the form of sulfate in food, and it is generally calculated in sulfur dioxide when detecting the residual amount. So, what role does sulfur -containing food additives play in food production and processing? What is the harm to human health?

1. Sulfur dioxide during food production and processing

What role?

Sulfur containing food additives are bleach and preservatives commonly used in food processing. For example, sulfur produces sulfur dioxide gas during the fumigation process, and a chemical reaction with the water in the food can generate sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is a strong reducing agent. When it is oxidized, the color of the food can be restored to the color, so that the food can maintain the bright color of the food. It can also inhibit the oxidase in the food, prevent the brown change of food, and play a role of color protection. Due to its reduction effect, it can also block the normal physiological oxidation process of microorganisms, inhibit the reproduction of microorganisms, extend the shelf life of the food, and play a role in anticorrosion.

2. Sulfur dioxide residue pair

What are the dangers of human health?

After consumption of food containing sulfur dioxide residues, the sulfur dioxide entered into the human body was finally converted into sulfate and excreted with urine. The sulfur residues in foods are within the limited edition of the national standard and generally do not endanger human health. However, if a sulfur -containing food additive is used in a limited edition, it will cause adverse effects on human health, which may cause cough, sore throat and digestive diseases, etc., and may also cause potential harm to human liver, kidney and other organs.

3. National Standards for Food Safety

What are the regulations for sulfur dioxide residues?

"Standard for Food Safety Standard Food Additives" (GB 2760) stipulates the variety, use range and maximum amount of use of sulfur -containing food additives allowed in food. Generally speaking, the maximum use range of sulfur-containing food additives is between 0.01 g/kg-0.4 g/kg (calculated based on sulfur dioxide residues).

For example, sulfur is limited to foods such as fumigating honey, cold fruits, dried fruits, dried vegetables, dried vegetables, star anise, sugar, konjac powder and other foods; Fruit, dried fruits, dried vegetables, bamboo, starch, candy, biscuits, wine, fruit wine and other foods; sodium coke can be used for fresh water products, frozen water products, frozen fishy products (all limited to sea water shrimp crab and its products).

In recent years, the problem of sulfur dioxide residues in food has received widespread attention.为解决检测标准适应范围问题，2022年6月30日，国家卫生健康委、市场监管总局发布《食品安全国家标准食品中二氧化硫的测定》（GB 5009.34-2022），将二氧化硫测定方法范围从果脯、 Dried vegetables, rice noodles, noodles, sugar, edible fungi, wine and other foods are expanded to the "all food" range, which will be officially implemented on December 30, 2022.

4. When buying and eating food

What do you need to pay attention to?

There are many reasons for the excess of sulfur dioxide residues in foods. Individual producers use inferior raw materials to reduce costs, and in order to improve product color, they use sulfur -containing food additives. Or directly use subcorite to soak and keep fresh; some producers are not standardized, and the measurement does not measure or the measurement is inaccurate when using additives.

Therefore, consumers should buy food in regular commercial places. Do not pursue the bright product color. If you find that there is a pungent odor, you should choose carefully; Cooking methods such as stewing can also remove some sulfur -containing food additives in foods. (Edit Li Chuang)

Source: Beijing Market Supervision WeChat

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