Health Guide: Got Sticker Shock? Clip These Lists for a Quick Cure

The 2013-2014 beijingkids Health Guide is the latest resource for Beijing families dedicated to providing information on family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine. Find the full version here.

Food labels were created to make our lives easier, but let’s be honest: does looking at the labels in your local supermarket send you into sticker shock? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, which is why we’ve put together this handy list of labels, common ingredients you should (and can easily) avoid, and gotten some top shopping recommendations from Beijing organic chef Laura Fanelli (see Health Guide p62).

It’s no secret that food safety is a big concern in China, and there are endless articles about the latest scandal – so much so that it might all seem rather hopeless.  But the scandals in recent years have actually driven the labeling of safe foods, says social media activist Kong Batian, who regularly returns to her hometown of Kunming to take on polluters and drive them out of town. “Grocery stores never thought it was important to label products, and it’s usually after a scandal that products get a seal of approval. Non-GMO oil is generally labeled because there was a stink about GMO corn, whereas the actual corn may not be labeled. We’ll get there – although it will be slowly and one scandal at a time.”

Here in Beijing organic and natural foods are readily available, and major grocery chains like Carrefour and Metro are steadily improving their supply chains to ensure food safety. The internet has also made it more convenient than ever to order safe, natural and organic supplies online. But for the things you’re going to buy locally, keep this list in mind. Cutting out a handful of food additives will improve the health of your family so that the impact of other foods isn’t quite as large.

Common Additives
Nitrates and Nitrites 硝酸盐
What it is: Synthetically produced food preservatives and fertilizer.
Can Cause: Aggravation for asthmatics, cancer, heart problems, and dead in people with Alzheimer’s and Type 2 Diabetes.
Where you’ll find it: Preserved meats, dried nuts and fruits.

Paraben 对羟苯甲酸酯
What it is: An additive used to prevent mold, but is also commonly found in cosmetics.
Can cause: Hormonal disruptions inferring with testosterone. Can also build up in breast tissue and studies have shown it found in breast cancer tissue.
Commonly found in: Ice creams, sweets, and instant noodles.

Sodium Benzoate 苯甲酸钠
What it is: A common food preservative found in acidic foods.
Can cause: allergic reactions and cancer.
Commonly found in: Sodas, juices, sauces, and pickled veggies

MSG 味精
What it is: The salt of the amino acid glutamic acid, used to enhance the savory quality of foods.
Can cause: Nausea, headaches, chest pains, and weakness.
Commonly found in: Dried nuts, Chinese sauces, and most restaurant foods.

Caramel Coloring 焦糖色
What it is: An artificial pigment created by heating sugars, often with ammonia, at which point it becomes a carcinogen.
Can cause: Cancer.
Commonly found in: Sodas, soy sauce, baked goods.

Sulfites 亚硫酸盐
What it is: Food preservative that maintains color and prevents bacteria by releasing sulfur dioxide.
Can cause: Serious breathing problems and asthma attacks if overused.
Commonly found in: wine, mixed fruits, and fruit bars, but be mostly concerned bout corner shops who preserve their own fruits and may not pay attention to the guidelines.

Saccharin 糖精
What it is: An artificial sweetener.
Can cause: Bladder cancer and weight gain.
Commonly found in: Sweet ‘N Low and ‘sugar-free’ and reduced drinks and sweets.

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