The use of additives in food production enterprises will be managed by dedicated personnel

        "Sudan Red", "Melamine", "Hanging White Block", abuse or illegal use of these non-edible substances as food additives occur frequently. The new "Food Safety Law" will focus on the supervision of food additives. Yesterday, the reporter learned from the municipal government's press conference that Shanghai will take the lead in implementing the additive management personnel system for food production enterprises in the country. In addition, relevant departments have required companies to indicate the content of additives on food packaging.

        Zheng Guanghui, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality Supervision, revealed: "After the "Food Safety Law" is promulgated and implemented, the production and use of food additives will be achieved. All processes are recorded and have special management. It is completely controllable. At the same time, all food packaging requires companies to indicate the content of additives. The use of additives, including the process of consumer use, can transparently understand the use of additives."

        It is reported that the additive management personnel system for food production enterprises to be implemented in Shanghai is also the first in the country. The full-time staff will check the process of the company's usual use of food additives, from procurement to production, and urge the company to continuously strengthen the management of the use of food additives. At present, relevant departments are initially considering training 3,000 food production enterprises.

        In the future, violations of the use of additives will be heavily penalized. For illegal acts such as the use of toxic, harmful or food additives that do not meet the food safety standards, the Food Safety Law has also increased penalties, stipulating a fine of 5 times to 10 times the value of the goods; if the circumstances are serious, it shall be revoked If its food production license causes a food safety accident, constitutes the crime of producing or selling food that does not meet hygienic standards, or the crime of producing or selling toxic or harmful food, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law.

        Although Shanghai's food safety is generally in a stable, orderly, and controllable state, the food and drug supervision work is also facing some new tests. Xie Minqiang, head of the Municipal Food Safety Joint Conference Office and deputy director of the Municipal Food and Drug Administration, said that Shanghai's large food consumption, low self-sufficiency rate and high external dependence have objectively added many uncertain factors to the city's food safety. In addition, the occurrence of major animal and plant epidemics abroad, the rapid development of biotechnology such as genetic modification, and the application of new raw materials and technologies for food production have caused food safety to face some new issues. Some convenience foods, fresh-keeping foods and health-care products, new additives, anti-mold preservation, nutrition fortification materials and new packaging materials used in the production have not undergone adequate and scientific follow-up tests, reducing the safety and reliability of food. 

(China Food Technology Network)