Use of Preservatives and Colouring Matter in Chinese New Year Foods (HTML)

Risk Assessment Studies
Report No. 1

Chemical Hazards Evaluation

Use of Preservatives and Colouring Matter
in Chinese New Year Foods

An Evaluation of Food Surveillance Findings 1996 to 1999

January 2000

(Revised on July 2004)

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Table of Contents

• Abstract
• Use of Preservatives and Colouring Matter in Chinese New Year Foods
• Table 1: Characteristics of Chinese New Year Foods
• Table 2: Preservatives in five categories of Chinese New Year Foods
• Table 3: Colouring Matter in five categories of Chinese New Year Foods
• References
• Appendix 1: Methodology
• Glossary

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Abstract

From 1996 through 1999, 499 and 386 samples of Chinese New Year Foods were tested for preservatives and colouring matter against the statutory standards. These foods were classified into five categories: steamed puddings, fried dumplings, sweetened fruits and vegetables, glutinous rice balls, and seeds. Of 499 samples tested for preservatives, 15 (3.0%) were reported unsatisfactory. Seven of 275 steamed puddings examined contained benzoic acid, which is not permitted in these flour-made products. Eight of 71 samples of sweetened fruits and vegetables examined were found to contain sulphur dioxide exceeding the permitted level. The most common items incriminated were sweetened melon and sweetened water chestnut. Of 386 samples tested for colouring matter, 15 (3.9%) contained non-permitted ones. Thirteen of 175 samples of steamed puddings examined contained Orange II, and two out of 72 samples of fried dumplings contained Rhodamine B. However, such practices have become less common in the last two years. Samples of glutinous rice balls and seeds examined were all satisfactory. Since Chinese New Year Foods were mainly consumed during festive seasons and the proportion of unsatisfactory samples was small, it was unlikely to have caused significant adverse impact on public health. The trade is advised to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice.

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Risk Assessment Studies -
Chemical Hazards Evaluation

Use of Preservatives and Colouring Matter
in Chinese New Year Foods

- An evaluation of the food surveillance findings in Hong Kong 1996-1999

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Introduction

Chinese New Year is the beginning of the lunar year, generally coincides with late January or February of the commonly used civil calendar. It signifies hope and joy, and is among the most important festivals in the Chinese culture. A number of special foods are taken during this period as part of the celebration and they exemplify strong local features. In Hong Kong, as the majority of residents are from Southern China, the Chinese New Year Foods are closely related to Guangdong cultures.

2. In this paper, we classify the Chinese New Year Foods commonly consumed in Hong Kong into five categories and examine preservatives and colouring matter in these food items using the food surveillance findings collected in 1996 to 1999.

Five Categories of Chinese New Year Foods

3. As the name implies, Chinese New Year Foods refer to a spectrum of food items that are commonly consumed during Chinese New Year. According to their compositions and manufacturing processes, Chinese New Year Foods can be classified into five categories - steamed puddings, fried dumplings, sweetened fruits and vegetables, glutinous rice balls and seeds. Many of these foods carry cultural meanings. The characteristics of these foods are listed in Table 1.

Food additives

4. Food additives, which are generally chemical in nature, may be potentially hazardous. The nature and magnitude of such hazards determine the suitability of these chemicals for use in food. The choice of food additives also depends on the effectiveness of additives to which the food is applied. According to Codex Alimentarius Commission, food additive means any substance not normally consumed as a food by itself, the intended use of which may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food (1). From the legal perspective, as listed under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations in Hong Kong, additive means any substance, not commonly regarded or used as food, which is added to, or used in or on, food at any stage to affect its keeping qualities, texture, consistency, appearance, taste, odour, alkalinity or acidity, or to serve any other technological function in relation to food, and includes processing aids in so far as they are added to, or used in or on food (2). In this paper, we focus on two commonly used additives in Chinese New Year Foods, namely preservatives and colouring matter. Reviewing the findings of food surveillance from 1996 to 1999, we examine the hazards originated from inappropriate use of preservatives and colouring matter in the five categories of Chinese New Year Foods.

Preservatives

5. Preservatives are used to prolong shelf life of a food by protecting against deterioration caused by microorganisms (1). Their uses in foods are sometimes necessary when the foods are not consumed immediately after production. From the legal perspective, as listed under the Preservatives in Food Regulations in Hong Kong, preservative means any substance which is capable of inhibiting, retarding or arresting the process of fermentation, acidification or other deterioration of food or of masking any of the evidence of putrefaction (2).

Colouring matter

6. The colour of a food is affected by processing and storage. To meet the consumers' expectations, manufacturers may add colouring agents to certain foods to produce the appetizing and attractive appearance. Colouration of food may also be a reflection of different cultures and life style (3). To this end, food colouring matter is defined as any substance that adds or restores colour in a food (1). 7. Colour carries special meaning in the Chinese culture. For instance, red means "luck and happy". Some food items are coloured in red, such as "red egg" and "birthday bun" for birthday celebration. Barbecued pork is also coloured red to make it more appealing. There are practical reasons for the use of colouring matter in Chinese New Year Foods:

• To provide a colourful appearance to food for sacrifice and celebration. For example, sesame balls are coloured to create festive and joyful appearance.
• To correct natural variations in colour, for example, New Year Pudding.
• To offset colour loss due to exposure to light, air, extremes of temperature, moisture and storage conditions, for example, sweetened fruits and vegetables.

Legal provision in Hong Kong

8. The uses of preservatives and colouring matter are stipulated in the regulations made under Part V of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132). No food intended for sale for human consumption shall contain any colouring matter or preservatives which is not specified in the schedule, and no person shall sell, or import into Hong Kong, any such food which does not comply with the provisions of these regulations.

9. The permitted preservatives for use in foods are stipulated in the First Schedule to the Preservatives in Food Regulations made under section 55 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), which specifies the permitted preservatives for use in respective foods, as well as the relevant maximum permitted levels.

10. The types of permitted colouring matter for use in food are stipulated in the First Schedule to the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations made under section 55 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132).

Results of Chinese New Year Foods Surveillance in Hong Kong 1996-1999

11. The surveillance results from 1996 through 1999 were reviewed to examine the potential hazards related to preservatives and colouring matter in the locally sold Chinese New Year Foods. A total of 499 and 386 samples were sent to Government Laboratory for testing of preservatives and colouring matter respectively. Fifteen samples (3.0%) were found to have used preservatives that were either not appropriate for the specified food or at higher than permitted level (Table 2). For colouring matter, 15 samples (3.9%) were found to contain non-permitted colouring matter (Table 3).

Steamed Puddings

12. Preservatives are generally used in steamed puddings to extend the shelf life. Like flour confectionery and other bakery products, the permitted preservatives in steamed puddings are sorbic acid and propionic acid. However, it was found that some manufacturers used benzoic acid in a number of steamed puddings, namely New Year Pudding, Taro Pudding, and Turnip Pudding, during the period from 1996 to 1998.

13. The use of non-permitted preservatives in Chinese New Year steamed puddings has decreased - none of the 107 samples taken in 1999 was found to contain the non-permitted benzoic acid.

14. Colouring matter may also be used in steamed puddings. A total of 13 samples of steamed puddings, namely New Year Pudding, Coconut New Year Pudding, Taro Pudding, and Water Chestnut Pudding, have been found to contain Orange II in the past four years. However, a closer examination revealed a downward trend. The use of Orange II in steamed puddings has decreased from 9 out of 29 samples in 1997 to 2 out of 65 samples in 1999 (Table 3).

Fried Dumplings

15. Traditionally sesame balls may be given a red spot to add festive feelings. In two consecutive years 1996 and 1997, Rhodamine B was found in two samples of sesame balls. Testing in the subsequent years did not found such phenomenon (Table 3).

Sweetened fruits and vegetables

16. Preservatives are commonly used in the preparation of sweetened fruits and vegetables. In the past three years, a total of eight sweetened melon or water chestnut samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide at levels above the maximum permitted concentration stipulated in the Regulations.

Glutinous rice balls and seeds

17. There were no irregularities detected in the surveillance of glutinous rice balls and seeds for preservatives and colouring matter.

Discussion

18. In this study, we have identified that benzoic acid and sulphur dioxide are the predominantly misused preservatives whereas Orange II is still an occasionally abused colour in Chinese New Year Foods.

Preservatives

19. Two preservatives found to exceed statutory limits in the Food Surveillance Programme on Chinese New Year Foods between 1996 and 1999 are benzoic acid and sulphur dioxide. Both are among the most widely used preservatives.

20. The use of benzoic acid in flour confectionery is not permitted in the Public Health and Municipal Service Ordinance (Cap. 132). On the other hand, propionic acid or sorbic acid are recommended to be used because they are more effective in minimizing spoilage in flour confectionery products including steamed puddings (4,5,6). The maximum permitted levels of preservatives may vary with its chemical nature and composition of the foods. For examples, for flour confectionery the law permits the use of 1000 parts per million (ppm) of sorbic acid or propionic acid (2).

21. When exposed to an excessive amount of benzoic acid, individuals may suffer from adverse reactions such as asthmatic attacks or neurological abnormalities (4,5). The present surveillance findings suggested that manufacturers might have chosen the inappropriate preservatives for the steamed puddings. Strengthening the delivery of relevant information to the food trade may be helpful.

22. Sulphur dioxide is commonly used in fruits, vegetables, wine, meat and sausages. Its activity usually covers yeast, moulds and bacteria. It also acts as an antioxidant, which prevents unwanted enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables (7). It is most effective in acidic foods. Allergic reactions to sulphur dioxide were reported in sensitive persons, such as those with asthmatic history (4).

23. In the unsatisfactory sweetened melon and water chestnut samples, the levels of sulphur dioxide have exceeded the maximum permitted limit. It is likely to be related to insufficient quality control during manufacturing process in the trade.

Colouring matter

24. The two types of non-permitted colouring matter identified in the present study, namely Rhodamine B and Orange II, are industrial dyes. Their uses in foods are forbidden.

25. Rhodamine B is a dye for wool and silk. It produces a brilliant red colour to the food. It was found in traditional Chinese food items such as red buns and pastries previously. Rhodamine B may cause irritation to lungs, eyes, throat, nose and intestines but details of toxic effects have not been reported. Erythrosine (BS) is recommended to replace Rhodamine B for food colouring purposes.

26. Orange II is an industrial dye which was occasionally detected in siu mei, lo mei, vegetarian food and bakery products. It produces a golden-yellow colour to the food. It has been forbidden for use in food in Hong Kong since 1994. Sunset Yellow FCF can be used to give the golden-yellow colour similar to Orange II.

27. Data collected in food surveillance is not sufficient to identify why the non-permitted colouring matter is used. However, it is speculated that the small-scale food manufacturers might have been adopting traditional materials in food preparation. Others might have used food ingredients that may contain non-permitted colouring matter.

Recommendations

Advice to the Public

28. This study revealed that the inappropriate use or excessive use of preservatives and colouring matter in Chinese New Year Foods has been infrequent in the past four years. As they are seasonal foods, the dietary intake is relatively small. It is therefore unlikely to have posed major health hazards to the consumers. Nevertheless, the public is recommended to maintain a balanced diet even during the festive seasons.

Strengthening communication with trade

29. This study highlights the importance of communication with the trade - especially the food manufacturers regarding the use of these food additives. A systematic communication with the wider public shall enhance the message further. Most importantly, these food additives should be used in accordance with good manufacturing practice such that levels of these additives are just appropriate to achieve their intended purposes.

Role of the Government

30. The Government has the statutory role to enforce the relevant regulations with a robust food surveillance system. Warning letters and/or prosecution will be issued to those manufacturers or vendors who fail to comply with the laws.

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Table 1: Characteristics of Chinese New Year Foods

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