New national standard adopts lead-free technology for preserved eggs

Do you still have scruples when you buy preserved eggs? Do not worry about it in the future. Since this month, the new national standards for preserved eggs have been formally implemented. The new national standard requires that preserved eggs be produced using lead-free technology, which means that the leaded preserved eggs process will withdraw from the stage of history.

New national standard removes lead

The new national standards for preserved eggs have been officially implemented since December. The newly produced preserved eggs must contain 0.5 mg/kg or less of lead, which is the same as ordinary fish, meat, and tofu. It is understood that lead and compounds are harmful to the human body. Frequent consumption of foods containing excessive amounts of lead leads to the accumulation of lead in the human body, which may cause harm to the nervous system, immune system, kidneys, etc. of the human body. It may have a certain influence on children’s cognitive and behavioral functions and can cause children to suffer from Hyperactivity disorder.

Huangdan powder (lead oxide) has been added to traditional Chinese preserved egg processing formulas. In the original national standards for preserved eggs, lead producers are allowed to conduct lead-containing processing. The lead content of preserved eggs should not exceed 3 mg/kg.

The new national standard removes the lead processing technology and stipulates that the lead content of preserved eggs should not exceed 0.5 mg/kg. Experts from the Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Center, Yu Guangfeng, introduced that in the past, when pickling preserved eggs, some heavy metal such as lead oxide was added in order to promote protein coagulation. Now that the process has been improved, copper sulphate, zinc sulphate, etc. are used instead of lead oxide, and lead-free substances are not added during the production process. "Pb-free preserved eggs" is named after this. The mandatory use of lead-free technology will raise the safety of preserved eggs to a new level.

During the visit, the reporter found that the packaging of most preserved eggs in supermarkets

After the “lead-free process” production, the price of a box of 8 preserved eggs ranges from 12 yuan to 20 yuan. In the ingredient list, fresh duck eggs, water, edible iodized salt, tea leaves, sodium hydroxide, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, etc. are generally written. However, in some farmers' markets, the reporter found that a lot of preserved eggs, there is no way to know its manufacturers and ingredients, prices are much cheaper than supermarkets.

Pregnant women and children should eat preserved eggs

As the new national standard of preserved eggs was formally implemented in December, the market still circulates many leaded preserved eggs. How to identify leaded and unleaded preserved eggs?

Yan Guangfeng reminds us to buy preserved eggs to try to purchase pre-packaged foods produced by regular manufacturers to see if the content of food labels is complete. We should indicate the name, address, production date, shelf life, net content of the food name, ingredient list, producer or distributor. Product standard number, production license number and QS mark. At the same time, generally lead-free preserved eggs, will highlight the "lead-free" words on the package.

In addition, the surface of the leaded eggs has a darker surface and is dark gray. Egg body surface is heavily contaminated and difficult to clean. There are many lead spots on the surface, commonly known as gold powder spots; the surface of unleaded preserved eggshells is bright and clean, with less lead spots and clean hygiene.

Ji Guangfeng also reminded that food can be divided into encouraging regular consumption, appropriate consumption, and limiting consumption. "Lead-free preserved eggs" are not lead-free, but the lead content is much lower than before. Lead-free preserved eggs can be eaten as a modest amount of food. Adults do not have problems if they eat once a week. However, for pregnant women and children, the absorption rate of lead is higher than that of the general population. To reduce the risk, it is recommended that these two types be reduced. The crowd should still limit the consumption of preserved eggs, eat less or not eat as well.