Is the information disclosure of additives insufficient? Truths Consumers Should Know

Food additives destroy health

In recent years, with the rise in health consciousness, interest in food additives has increased. However, the current situation is that many additives are used in foods sold at convenience stores and supermarkets. Many consumers have a vague image of additives as "not good for the health," but in reality they don't fully understand what additives are used, and how much they are used, and the dangers of them.

Disparity in perception of additives

While many people have the image that "additives are bad for the body," many of the foods they eat in daily life use additives. In particular, it is no exaggeration to say that processed foods are a treasure trove of additives. For example, various additives are used in many of the foods that are essential to our diet, such as bento boxes, prepared dishes, snacks, and soft drinks.

1. Many consumers are not sure they have accurate knowledge of the types, amounts and risks of additives found in these foods. Even when you check the ingredients name on the back of a product, you may often find katakana and technical terms, and you may not understand what they are.
   
2. Many people probably avoid thinking too deeply about additives with the simple idea that "it's safe because it's a famous manufacturer" or "it's fine because everyone is eating it." Also, some people may have given up on it because they can't help but add some additives.

Warning from additive experts

Experts who know the inside of the additive industry are sounding the alarm in response to this current situation. Abe Tsukasa, who was once a top salesman at a food additive trading company, points out in his book that information about additives appears to be publicly available to the general public, but is not being published.

Abe said the additive industry is taking advantage of the fact that consumers don't know much about additives and uses large amounts of additives in their food. It also points out that additives may be labeled in a way that misleads consumers.

It appeals to consumers for the need to learn more about additives.

The reality of mentaiko, a typical example of foods with lots of additives

Typical examples of foods that use particularly many additives include mentaiko, pickles, kneaded foods, ham and sausages. These foods contain a variety of additives to enhance their appearance, taste and shelf life.

Here, let's take mentaiko as an example, and take a look at the actual use of additives.

The cod, which is the raw material for mentaiko, is originally considered to be a high-quality product made from hard and well-colored. However, even soft, poorly colored, low-grade cod kods can instantly be transformed into a transparent, baby-like shiny skin by simply soaking them in an additive solution overnight. It also tightens and turns into a hard cod.

This process uses a variety of additives, such as colorants, coloring agents, preservatives, and seasonings. Trading companies that sell additives blend these additives and sell them by different purposes, such as for coloring, for firming, and for quality improvement. Manufacturers may use the additives only for the "purpose" and without knowing the content well.

These additives are used in only one food. It's a lot more than we imagined. In particular, it is said that no chemical seasonings are more than mentaiko. The amount of chemical seasoning used in mentaiko can be about 2-3% of the total weight.

Hana

Hana

The taste of cod and mentaiko, which many people happily eat, is actually the result of chemical seasonings. We believe that the taste of additives is the taste of food, and are delighted to say that it is "delicious."

By the way, homemade mentaiko can be made using only natural ingredients such as natural sea salt, junmai mirin, junmai sake, whole soy soy sauce, kelp stock, bonito stock, syrup, and chili peppers. Old mentaiko was made using these ingredients.

Hana

Issues regarding the safety of additives

Tests for toxicity and carcinogenicity of additives are repeated using animals such as mice. For example, the amount of additive A on mice was killed when they used them. So, if you use them on humans, you should make it one hundredth of the time, and make it up to 1 gram." Based on the results of animal experiments, the amount of use for humans is determined.

1. Human experiments are ethically impossible, so the results of animal experiments may not necessarily apply to humans. Additionally, the effects of additives may vary depending on the animal type and individual differences.
   
2. There has not been sufficient research into the combined effects of concurrent consumption of multiple additives. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare conducts toxicity tests on individual additives to confirm their safety, but there are still many unknowns about the interactions when multiple additives are combined.
   
3. Even if additives are safe on a single product, it cannot be ruled out that taking multiple additives at the same time may cause unexpected health effects. The current situation is that we are eating food while carrying the risk of combining additives, which is uncertain to anyone.

Pitfalls of "uncolored" display

1. Some people may think, "If beautifully colored mentaiko is dangerous, then you should just eat uncolored mentaiko." Uncolored mentaiko is thought to be good for your health because it does not contain synthetic coloring. The fact that it is sold at a slightly higher price than regular mentaiko also encourages this image.
   
2. If you look at the display on the back of the uncolored mentaiko, you can see that although it does not contain synthetic coloring agents, other additives are almost the same as regular mentaiko.
   
3. Uncolored mentaiko only contains no synthetic coloring agents, and the other additives are no different from normal. We tend to feel secure when we see "uncolored" labels, but that is the manufacturer's strategy, and just because uncolored mentaiko doesn't necessarily mean that it's healthy.

Green

The background to this is that supermarkets and co-ops have requested that they "have mentaiko that does not use coloring agents," and the manufacturer has developed it in response to this. In other words, although the product is in response to consumer needs, it has not yet been able to solve the essential problem.

What consumers can do and make smart choices

As we've seen so far, there are many problems with food additives. But if we are indifferent to these issues, then things will not change. Consumers are aware of additive issues and make smart choices, making wise choices, are the first step to improving the situation.

First of all, it is important to acquire correct knowledge about additives. Use that knowledge when learning about the types of additives, their uses, and their safety, and when choosing foods.

Next, try to eat your own foods whenever possible. If you eat out or use processed foods frequently, try to increase the proportion of people cooking at home, even if only little by little.

When choosing processed foods, be sure to check the back of the food carefully and choose ones with fewer additives. In particular, avoid foods with a large variety of additives whenever possible.

Also, make sure you don't get misled by labels such as "additive-free" or "colorless." These labels do not necessarily mean "safe." It is important to see through the company's intentions behind the display.

Then, ask the government and businesses to disclose information about additives. Encourage people to disclose more detailed information about additive safety. Also, ask to promote research into the effects of combined intake.

Donbei

As we consumers take the issue of additives seriously and make smart choices, the food industry will be forced to change. To live a healthy diet, be proactive in dealing with additive issues.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.