Jane Lai
THE city market supervision administration will inspect noodle products on a regular basis after a recent random inspection found 20 percent of noodle products failed to meet national food safety standards, the administration said.
The administration released the results of random inspections Feb. 18, showing nearly 20 percent of 198 samples contained excessive levels of food additives and some were even contaminated with borax.
Borax is a component of detergents, cosmetics and enamel glazes. Its use as a cooking ingredient is to give food a firm texture, or as a preservative. Food containing borax can cause symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and even shock, while high consumption can harm the liver.
Shops, restaurants and eateries found offering noodles with excessive levels of food additives or harmful chemicals would be severely punished, the administration said.
Rice, noodles and related products have long been among those under the administration s key inspections. From 2008 to last year, the administration had inspected 386 samples of wet, packaged and instant noodles. About 10 percent failed to meet food safety standards.
Major problems involved excessive levels of additives and microorganisms.
