China Tightens Food Additive Regulations

The Chinese Ministry of Health has published six restrictions on the use of food additives.

The regulations require food producers to use the minimum amount of food additives, and are not allowed to use those that would reduce the nutritional value of food.

Regulations forbid the use of food additives to mislead consumers about the content and quality of food or to fake food content.

Using food additives to disguise decaying and bad quality food is also forbidden.

The ministry said it will only approve new food additives if they are proved to be necessary in food production and safe for humans in tests organised by the ministry.