Prevent plasticizers: not emergency but long-term mission

The Ministry of Health issued a new batch of "blacklists" of food additives. Phthalates were included. The "plasticizers" that recently caused panic on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are such substances. On the same day, the State Council’s Food Safety Commission requested that all departments and regions take measures to comprehensively strengthen the inspection and supervision of Taiwan's imports of sports drinks, fruit juices, tea beverages, jams, paste powders, and related food additives.

It should be said that this time about the food safety crisis caused by plasticizers in the Taiwan region of China, the response of relevant departments is fast and positive. But now, it seems that the problem of plasticizers is far from here. On the one hand, foods, beverages, and health products involved in the illegal addition of plasticizers are gradually increasing; on the other hand, plasticizers are illegally added. The depth of influence is far more serious than previously thought. The Department of Biology of the Hong Kong Baptist University conducted an analysis of blood samples collected from 300 Hong Kong citizens by the Red Cross Society from August to September last year. Blood samples from 200 members of the public were collected and found that 99% of the blood samples were found in blood samples. There are "plasticizers." An expert in the Department of Biological Sciences, who is in charge of the study, stated that “this type of chemical material may exist in food all the time”. It can be seen that the plasticizer problem is far longer than the discovery time. Our response range and response should be further increased.

First of all, it is absolutely necessary to comprehensively strengthen the inspection and supervision of imported sports drinks, juices, tea drinks, jams, paste powders and other food additives and related food additives, but it may be better to turn to the attack. That is, for related foods and health products, not only is there a problem to be allowed to be listed, but also it is necessary to allow listing without problems. In other words, the relevant departments do not passively find foods and health products that involve plasticizers as the basis for strengthening supervision in other places, but should actively and comprehensively sample all kinds of foods that may be involved as the basis for strengthening supervision.

Second, prevention and control. It is necessary not only to strengthen the supervision and inspection of relevant foods in Taiwan, but also to strengthen the supervision and inspection of other similar foods. In fact, since the issue of plasticizers was exposed, many experts have suggested that all foods that may be involved be included in the daily supervision of plasticizers.

Third, prevent plasticizers from being "migrated" into foods. It is now generally concerned that plasticizers are illegally added to foods. However, because plasticizers in plastic packaging materials cannot chemically bond with plastic molecules, they easily dissolve out of plastics, migrate to foods, and contaminate foods. This question, as early as 2008, was published in the core journal "Food Safety", and pointed out that at the same time, excessive addition of plasticizers to packaging materials would itself cause harm. The issue of plastic toys that has received widespread attention in the previous phase is related to this. However, at present, we have technical means but lack relevant testing and regulations.

In short, “plasticizers” have a wide range of hazards and serious hazards. The nature of our response to plasticizers is not an emergency response to an emergency, but should establish a long-term guarantee for the safety of food and related products. mechanism.