《中國日報》報道:
The use of essence in staple foods such as rice and buns is banned, according to China's food hygiene rules. Yet, the owner of a shop named Zhenggongfu in Beijing's Changping district said he adds the flavoring to meat to make it more appealing.
國家食品衛生法禁止在大米、饅頭等主食中添加香精,然而,北京昌平區一家打著“蒸功夫”牌子的包子店店主說他在肉餡中加入香精是為了讓包子味道更誘人。
這種添加了肉味香精的包子就是所謂的“香精包子”,可以翻譯成steamed stuffed buns with meat-flavor essence。過多食用這種“香精包子”會傷及人體的肝、腎,并會損害immune system(免疫系統)。Swill-cooked dirty oil(地溝油)還未禁絕,又冒出了香精包子,實在讓人擔憂中國的food safety(食品安全)。
調查還發現,“香精包子”中所使用的unidentified additives(不明添加劑)包裝上的標簽全為外文,而根據規定,中國所有進口食品的包裝內必須含有Chinese specifications(中文說明書),其中必須包括sell-by date(保質期)、manufacturer(制造商)、distributor(經銷商)和contact information(聯系信息)。這次事件讓人們發現,food made on-site(現場制售的食品)也未必比prepackaged food(預包裝食品)更安全。