Experts refute rumors about 'poisonous' instant noodles  

網傳吃一碗方便面要花32天解毒 專家稱傳言不可信

國家食品安全風險評估中心助理研究員王華麗表示：“雖然《食品添加劑使用標準》規定方便面中允許使用約25種食品添加劑，但考慮到工藝的必要性和成本因素，25種食品添加劑不可能同時添加，例如已經使用β—胡蘿卜素就沒有必要使用同一功能的著色劑如核黃素�！� [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Health experts have come out against online rumors that instant noodles contain poisonous ingredients, the People's Daily said on Tuesday.

The rumors have claimed that a package of instant noodles contains 25 kinds of food additives, including many preservatives and antioxidants. The rumors also said it takes the liver 32 days to break down the "poisons" in one bowl of instant noodles.

Gelatin and caustic soda have been added to dried noodles, which are not stomach-friendly, the rumors said.

To figure out whether the rumors are true or not, reporters chose three brands of instant noodles and sent them for testing by experts.

No preservatives were detected in any of the noodle products, and the amount of antioxidants found was also within safety standards.

"It is impossible for manufacturers to add all of the 25 kinds of food additives into one instant noodle product, since it is totally unnecessary to do so," said Wang Huali, an assistant researcher at the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment.

"If β-Carotene is added into instant noodles as a colorant, other additives that boast the same function, like riboflavin, are not necessary," said Wang.

The dried noodles and the packets of flavoring powder in them contain little water, so there is no need to add preservatives to them, he added. And the seasoning sauces sold with the noodles have undergone high temperature pasteurization, so there is also no need to add preservatives.

As to the gelatin and caustic soda found in dried noodles, an expert from Jiangnan University says these additives are safe to eat and enhance the flavor of noodles.

Instant noodles are not healthy, but it is unfair to call it "poisonous food," he said.