Bleaching agents used by some Chinese flour producers may contain an inedible agent posing a health threat, state media reported. Some companies have used pulverized lime to replace more expensive and lighter-weight bleaching agents benzoyl peroxide and corn flour. The state media report quoted industry experts as saying the use of pulverized lime is "definitely forbidden" in flour production, but said no clear regulations exist. Samples of bleaching agent produced by the Yuzhong Food Additive Company in Rugao, Jiangsu province, were found to contain 30% pulverized lime; the company’s bleaching agent sold for US$1,318 per ton, compared with a typical price for bleaching agents of US$1,611 per ton. The report did not highlight specific health risks; lime is commonly used in the food industry for the production of dairy products, baked goods and in sugar refining.
Categories