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An investigation by the People’s Daily revealed that there are factories in Mabian, Sichuan and other places that use industrial sulfur to smoke fresh bamboo shoots. Not only do the products contain excessive sulfur dioxide residues, but they can also flow into food factories and export chains.
After formaldehyde-based cabbage, DDT insecticide and bayberry medicine,Communist Party of China The People’s Daily, the central party media, today published the results of a public investigation. A factory in Mabian Yi Autonomous County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province used large amounts of industrial sulfur to smoke bamboo shoots, causing sulfur dioxide residues to seriously exceed standards. Such toxic processed vegetables were also found flowing in the export industry chain.
The report reported that residents of Mabian County, Gulin County and Zuyong County in Luzhou city reported that some people smoked fresh bamboo shoots with sulfur to keep them fresh and selling well. Sulfur-smoked fresh bamboo shoots can not only harm the health of consumers, but also seriously pollute the air.
In September, a reporter from the People’s Daily went to Laodong Town, Mabian County according to the address given by the reader. Following the source of the smell, we reached a courtyard with “Yijiyuan Farmhouse” written on its door. In a factory building in the courtyard, several workers are sorting and bagging fresh bamboo shoots. As a buyer asked, the reporter asked, “Are the bamboo shoots you sell here smoked with sulfur?” The answer was positive.
Why should it be drunk with sulphur? A staff member said: “The main thing is preservation. Ordinary bamboo shoots can only be stored for one or two days, but after smoking, they can be stored for one or two months.”
Hu Zheng, head of the market supervision bureau of Mabian County, said 38 small and medium-sized bamboo shoot processing or temporary storage sites have been registered in the county. Regulatory authorities implement regular supervision and will increase inspections during the bamboo shoot season, but the results are not satisfactory.
What are the potential dangers of eating sulfur-smoked fresh bamboo shoots? Yi Huilan, a second-level professor at the School of Life Sciences of Shanxi University, said sulfur dioxide sticks to bamboo shoots and converts to sulfite when it comes in contact with water. Even low dose consumption over a long period of time will deplete B vitamins; This will continue to irritate the digestive system and increase the risk of mucosal damage. In addition, heavy metals (lead, arsenic) brought by industrial sulfur can accumulate in the liver and kidneys, and long-term consumption can damage liver and kidney functions. Arsenic is a type of carcinogen.
The owner of a processing base in Mabian County said: “These products will not be sold directly to people for consumption, otherwise something will happen. They are sold to food factories. They will ‘desulfurize’ them and then make them into snacks and semi-finished products such as pickled peppers and bamboo shoot tips. It will not cause any harm to the human body.”
In this regard, Yu Xuejun, chief expert of the bamboo food team of the Bamboo Research Institute of Zhejiang A&F University, said, “Objectively speaking, after sulfur-smoked bamboo shoots are processed through ‘desulfurization’, they are made into bamboo shoot products that meet relevant national standards. There is no adverse impact on human consumption.” “But in reality, incomplete ‘desulfurization’ is inevitable.”
Summary FAQ
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Reports indicate that some operators in Mabian, Sichuan and other places use industrial sulfur to smoke fresh bamboo shoots to extend the shelf life and improve their appearance. However, this results in the release of excessive sulfur dioxide residues and may pollute the air and food safety environment.
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According to the owner of the processing point, this type of bamboo shoots are not sold directly to consumers, but rather supplied to food factories for “desulfurization” treatment, and then made into snacks or semi-finished products such as pickled pepper tips, and can even enter the export industry chain.
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Experts point out that if sulfur dioxide remains in sulfur-smoked bamboo shoots, long-term consumption may harm the digestive system and destroy the vitamin B complex. Heavy metals brought by industrial sulfur can also accumulate and cause liver and kidney damage; Even if desulphurization is not complete, risks remain if it is not completed.
