In the last issue, we discussed some questions about the use regulations, carry-over principles and food classification of food additives. In this issue, we will talk about some questions about compound food additives and food additive labelling of food additives.

IV. Compound Food Additives

1. When Compound food additives are used in jam, is it required that every additive in the compound food additive can be used in jam?

According to the provisions of GB 26687-2011 " National Food Safety Standard, General Rules for Compound Food Additives " (hereinafter referred to as GB 26687), Food additives used to produce compound food additives should comply with the provisions in GB 2760 and the announcements of the Ministry of Health and have the same usage scope.

2. There is a compound food additive including preservatives, acidity regulators and some processing aids, whichare all of a single species. This additive plays a certain preservative effect in the final product. How to name this compound food additive?

Food additives composed by multiple additives with the same or different functions can be named according to all or main functions that they play in the end food. In addition, the name of the end food category can also be added in the name.

This compound food additive can be named compound preservative.

3. When compound food additives contain food additives with the same function (i.e. colorants with the same color, preservatives and antioxidants), should they comply with the requirement that the sum of the proportions of their respective amounts to the maximum amount of use should not exceed 1?

Various food additives used in the production of compound food additives should meet the requirements of GB 2760, so they need to be implemented in accordance with the requirements.

V. Food Additive Labelling

1. What is the labeling form of food additives in the ingredient list?

First case, Listed with other ingredients in descending order of addition, E.g:

Ingredients: water, full-cream milk powder, thin cream, vegetable oil, chocolate (cocoa liquor, white granulated sugar, cocoa butter, phospholipid, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, food flavoring, and tatrazine), glucose syrup, propylene glycol ester of fatty acid, carrageenan, guar gum, annatto, maltodetrin, food flavoring substance .

Second case, Food additive items are indicated together, E.g:

Ingredients: water, full-cream milk powder, thin cream, vegetable oil, chocolate (cocoa liquor, white granulated sugar, cocoa butter, phospholipid, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, food flavoring, tatrazine), glucose syrup, food additives (propylene glycol ester of fatty acid, carrageenan, guar gum, annatto), maltodetrin, food flavoring substance.

2. Do food flavors need to be labeled under food additives?

Appendix B.4.1 General Principles of GB 7718-2011 "National Food Safety Standard-General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" (hereinafter referred to as GB 7718) stipulates that food additives for direct use shall be declared in food additive items. Nutrition fortifier, food flavoring, and bodying agents in chewing gum can be declared outside food additive items in the list of ingredients.

3. How to label the names of food additives?

As to food additives, its common names stated in GB 2760 shall be labeled. The common names of food additives can be labeled as the specific names, for example, potassium sorbate；or the functional category names of food additives and the specific names or international number system (INS no.) ,for example, colorant 120.

4. How to label compound food additives in the food ingredient list？

In the "Questions and answers of 'General Standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods' (GB7718-2011,Revised edition)", regarding the labeling requirements for compound food additives: "Every food additive that has a functional effect in the final product should be indicated in the list of food ingredients." According to the understanding of the relevant standard provisions and the analysis of common labeling methods on the market, the following labeling methods can be implemented:

Method 1: reflect its mixed attributes

For example: "Ingredients: pork, starch, compound moisture retention agent (sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, maltodextrin)."

Method 2: Directly mark separately in the ingredient list

For example: "Ingredients: pork, starch, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, maltodextrin."

VI. How to quickly check the requirements for the use of food additives?

Whether a certain substance is a food additive, such as alcohol, papaya powder, liquid anhydrous ammonia, etc., and whether a certain food can be added to a certain food additive, Foodmate recommended that you can use the GB 2760 query system of foodmate (http:// db.foodmate.net/2760-2014/) to determine.

VII. Summary:

It can be seen from the above questions that if food additives in imported foods are to be compliant, the most important thing is to understand China's food additive standards and regulations and organize production in accordance with China's standards and regulations. Related companies can use Foodmate to conduct compliance consultations on imported food additives to pave the way for trade.

Recommend article:
GB 2760 Q&A (I)

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Please note: Original English article of Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate, please indicate the source from the Global Foodmate if reprint.

Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net