Flour brightener is banned from May 1

(Reporter Meng Qingpu) Whether the prolonged flour whitening agent has been banned has finally settled. On March 1st, at the press conference held by the National Food Safety and Reorganization Office in Beijing, six departments, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued announcement requirements. Since May 1 of this year, it has been banned from adding food additive benzoyl peroxide to flour production. Formyl, calcium peroxide, and food additive manufacturers may not produce or sell benzoyl peroxide or calcium peroxide; food standards that allow the addition of benzoyl peroxide or calcium peroxide in flour (wheat flour) may be repealed on their own. Prior to the use of benzoyl peroxide and calcium peroxide in accordance with the relevant standards of flour and its products, can be sold until the end of the shelf life.

Chen Rui, deputy director of the Department of Food Safety Comprehensive Coordination and Hygiene Supervision of the Ministry of Health, explained that the use of Food Additives must meet two conditions at the same time: First, it is technically necessary, and second, it is safe and reliable. Although benzoyl peroxide was not found to be safe for its intended use, it was decided to withdraw because the flour processing industry had no technical necessity for use. In order to reduce the impact of the revocation action on the industry as much as possible, according to international practice, the government set a transition period for cancellation. Relevant departments decided to shorten the one-year transition period from the original solicitation of opinions after fully considering the opinions of various parties and the implementation requirements for regulatory measures. From the original December 1 this year, the prohibition shall be forbidden from May 1st of this year.