More than 40 percent of 4-6 year-old Chinese children are exposed to
excess aluminum from food additives, new research has indicated. About 43
percent of this age group eat 1.6 times the maximum daily consumption of
aluminum suggested by the World Health Organization, according to a survey
conducted by the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment under
the Ministry of Health.
Children absorbed the hazardous substance mainly by eating puffed-grain
foods, according to the study results, released on Thursday. Exposure to high
levels of aluminum may result in respiratory and neurological problems. Additives
containing aluminum are widely used in China's food industry. Flour and flour
products including steamed bread, fried dough sticks, and noodles are major
sources of the element, said Chen Junshi, a senior expert with the center.
Such additives are allowed in food processing, but producers tend to use
more than the required amount to boost taste, Chen added. The survey also
showed that people living in northern China consume 4.6 times the amount of
aluminum taken in by people in southern China, due to the former's dietary
preference for flour products. The country's health authorities are considering
stricter regulations on the use of 13 kinds of food additives containing
aluminum, according to Chen.
Xinhua.net
Please share
No comments:
Post a Comment