Internet celebrity fried bun shop illegally added borax, and the owner was sentenced to 7 months in prison! Today let’s take a look at what substances cannot be added to imported foods!

Recently, in order to improve the taste of the product and reduce operating costs, a certain internet celebrity fried bun shop in Cangshan District, Fuzhou illegally added borax, a non-edible substance, soaked the raw beef in borax water, and then made it into beef slipper for sale. After a final trial by the court, the boss Chen was sentenced to seven months in prison and fined RMB 16,000 for the crime of producing and selling toxic and harmful food.

Video screenshot

This incident caused heated discussion on the Internet! Many people are concerned about what other substances are prohibited from being added to the food we eat?

In addition to the well-known poppies, borax, plasticizers (phthalates), etc. that are banned, there are actually many additives that cannot be used in food.

According to China's current food safety regulations and the new version of the 'National Food Safety Standards for the Use of Food Additives' (GB 2760-2024) implemented on February 8, 2025, different foods have strict requirements for the substances and ingredients that can be added. Today I would like to briefly share with you which additives cannot be used. When purchasing imported food and beverages, consumers should read the ingredient list clearly to avoid mistakes!

1. Food additives expressly prohibited by law

(1) Comprehensive banned additives

1. Azocarboxamide (INS 927a) was once used to add gluten to flour, but was rejected due to process necessity. China has completely banned its use in any food. The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China has banned its use in any food. Although the EU allows its use, food imported into China will be returned or destroyed if it contains the substance.

2. Potassium bromate (INS 924) was once allowed to be used in bread making in the United States, but has been completely banned in China since 2005 because it may cause genetic mutations. Imports of flour or baked goods found to contain the substance will face penalties.

3. Natural colorants such as dense yellow and jujube color were deleted from GB 2760-2024 due to lack of process necessity. Imported beverages and candies containing such colorants will not meet the standards.

(2) Additives prohibited in specific food categories

1. preservative

• Sorbic acid and its potassium salt (INS 200-203):

  China prohibits its use in canned foods (such as canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables), while the EU allows limited addition in some cans.

• Dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt (INS 265-266):

  It is completely banned in bread, pastries, and starch products (such as vermicelli). Although Japan, the United States and other countries allow its use, related products imported into China must comply with Chinese standards.

2. Colorants

• Tartrazine (INS 102):

  The EU allows it to be used in some foods, but China prohibits its use in cake fillings and fermented flour products.

• Sunset Yellow (INS 110):

  The United States allows it to be used in beverages, but China is more strict on its scope and limits. For example, the maximum usage amount in carbonated drinks is 0.1g/kg, and it cannot be used in infant food.

3. Processing aids

• Mineral oil:

  The EU allows its use in food contact materials, but China prohibits its use as a processing aid. Imported chocolates, candies, etc. will be disposed of if mineral oil residues are detected.

2. Illegal additives and industrial raw materials

(1) Non-edible substances

1. The use of clenbuterol (such as ractopamine and clenbuterol) in animal breeding is strictly prohibited in China. Although Canada, the United States and other countries allow some use, imported pork and beef products will be destroyed if residues are detected. For example, in 2025, a batch of Canadian pig trotters was returned to China due to excessive levels of ractopamine.

2. Industrial dyes (such as Alkaline Orange 2, Red 2G) are banned from use in food in the European Union and the United States, but some Southeast Asian countries have illegally added them to soy products and condiments. Chinese customs have repeatedly seized imported food containing industrial dyes.

3. Medicinal ingredients (such as antihypertensive drugs and diarrheal substances) are prohibited in China from adding candesartan cilexetil, fentanyl and other drugs to health foods or ordinary foods. Some imported 'functional foods' have been investigated and punished for illegal additions.

(2) Industrial raw materials

1. Plasticizers (such as DEHP, DBP) China prohibits the addition of phthalate plasticizers to food. In Taiwan's 'Plasticizer Incident', many companies used DEHP to replace legal emulsifiers in the production of beverages, resulting in hundreds of products being contaminated by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. Imported beverages and edible oils will be processed if plasticizer migration is detected.

2. Industrial salts (such as sodium nitrite) China allows the limited use of sodium nitrite in specific meat products (residual amount ≤0.03g/kg). However, industrial-grade sodium nitrite is strictly prohibited from use in food processing due to its low purity and many impurities. Imported pickled products that use industrial salt will be punished.

3. Risk substances requiring special attention

(1) Pollutants during processing

1. Aflatoxins Peanuts, corn and other agricultural products are susceptible to contamination. China stipulates that the limit of aflatoxin B1 in nuts is ≤8μg/kg, and the European Union is even stricter (≤2μg/kg). In 2025, Hong Kong recalled a batch of imported sunflower seeds with excessive aflatoxin levels.

2. Benzopyrene may be produced in smoked and fried foods, and China has set a limit of 2.0 μg/kg. In 2024, a batch of banana chips from Indonesia was returned to Taiwan due to excessive levels of benzopyrene.

(2) Natural toxins

1. Tropine alkaloids (such as atropine, scopolamine)

   It exists in some plants, and China has stipulated that its limit in food is 5μg/kg. In 2024, a batch of French corn flour was notified of excessive tropane alkaloids (24 μg/kg) and has been distributed to Hong Kong, China.

4. Banned substances caused by differences in national standards

(1) Additives banned by the EU but allowed by China

1. Carmine (INS 124)

   The European Union has banned its use in some foods due to possible allergic reactions, but China allows limited use in candies and beverages (0.05-0.5g/kg).

(2) Additives allowed in the United States but banned in China

1. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is allowed to be used in citrus drinks in the United States, but China considers it to be a health risk and completely bans its addition. Imported BVO-containing beverages (such as certain U.S. sports drinks) will be returned.

2. Aspartame (INS 951) is allowed to be used in the United States, but China requires that foods containing aspartame be labeled with the warning 'contains phenylalanine' and is prohibited from being used in infant food.

5. Consumer prevention suggestions

1. Check the label: Imported food must be labeled in Chinese, and pay attention to whether the ingredient list contains banned substances such as 'azocarboxamide' and 'ractopamine'. According to GB 7718-2011, all additives must be clearly labeled with their specific names.

2. Choose formal channels to purchase through large supermarkets or brand official channels to reduce the risk of illegal additions. For example, imported cooked food in bulk and pickled food from unknown sources may have problems with the illegal use of preservatives.

3. Pay attention to official notifications. The State Administration for Market Regulation, the General Administration of Customs and other departments regularly release information on unqualified imported foods. Consumers can learn about the latest developments through the official website or the media.

4. Don’t be overly superstitious about imported foods. Some foods that are claimed to be imported may actually be domestically produced and exported for domestic sales. Many domestically produced foods are not bad, the key is to choose the right products.

6. Key points of corporate compliance

1. Formula self-examination Importers need to check the formula against GB 2760-2024. For example, canning companies need to stop using all preservatives, and bakeries need to replace sodium dehydroacetate with other antibacterial solutions.

2. Supply chain control ensures that raw material and additive suppliers have legal qualifications. For example, when using sweeteners, it is necessary to verify that they comply with quality standards such as GB 1886.234 and obtain test reports.

3. Label update: Imported foods produced after February 8, 2025, must have labels that comply with the new version of the standard. For example, foods containing asparagylphenylalanine methyl ester acesulfame must be labeled with the warning 'contains phenylalanine'.

According to news released by the General Administration of Customs on September 29, since the beginning of this year, the customs has returned or destroyed 5,924 batches of unqualified imported food; suspended the export of products from 498 unqualified companies from 38 countries to China; investigated and dealt with 203 administrative penalty cases involving food, with a value of 720 million yuan; and investigated 581 tax-related food smuggling cases with a value of 5.59 billion yuan. Port customs will supervise imported food through document review (label review), on-site inspection (sampling testing) and other means to ensure that imported food meets our country's requirements.

Final summary

The management of additives in imported food and beverages must strictly follow Chinese standards. Companies need to pay special attention to differences in national laws and regulations (such as substances allowed by the EU and the United States but prohibited by China). Consumers should purchase through formal channels and pay attention to official notifications. The new regulations in 2025 further improve the safety level of imported food by strengthening the restrictions on mixed use and expanding the detection scope of illegal additives. All parties need to work together to maintain 'safety on the tip of the tongue.'

If you have any questions about imported food, you can send me a private message. Free answers to questions such as imported food access, ingredient review, Chinese label design, import approval processing, registration of overseas production companies in China (GACC), and registration of imported food consignors and consignors.

If you need to know the national standards of specific foods, you can search 'Food Partner Network' to download and check!

Website: https://www.foodmate.net/

Source: Import Customs Declaration Network | If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it