Some consumers in the United States filed a lawsuit in California court, claiming that the content of additive carbon dioxide in rainbow candy products produced by Mars was too high. Carbon dioxide can cause brain damage, affect liver, kidney and other internal organs, and even cause changes in human DNA, which is a big safety hazard for many children who love to eat this rainbow hall. As a food additive, carbon dioxide is widely used in the food industry, aiming at preventing products from caking and making products look brighter. Some common foods such as skim milk, ice cream, chewing gum, biscuits, cheese, sauce and so on. Has been added.
Carbon dioxide is used as an additive in 1940, and can be added to human food with the approval of FDA in 1966. Because carbon dioxide makes food appear whiter and more visually impactful, it is made of candy. Favored by baking, cake and other industries, it is often used to raise the color tone of finished products. Mars, which was sued this time, is a large multinational company with a wide range of businesses, among which snacks and candy are its important businesses. In 20 16, EFSA, the European Food Safety Agency, studied carbon dioxide and found that its composition and characteristics were uncertain. What about the follow-up EFSA continues to study carbon dioxide. 202 1, EFSA published a research summary, carbon dioxide is not a safe food additive, so it is not recommended to use carbon dioxide in food industry.
The FDA believes that as long as the weight ratio of carbon dioxide in food does not exceed 1%, it is safe and will not cause any risk to human body. Both sides hold their own words. Mars, a food giant, said that carbon dioxide will not pose a risk to human health and safety, and promised to phase out the use of carbon dioxide food additives after 20 16. But Ma still added carbon dioxide to rainbow candy products, just talking about one thing and doing another.