Can you eat beef tripe soaked in hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide has a certain bactericidal effect. I have seen reports in the media that beef tripe soaked in hydrogen peroxide is still edible? Through investigation, it was found that hydrogen peroxide is a legal food processing aid. After the reaction, hydrogen peroxide will produce water and oxygen, so it has no toxic side effects. The reason for using hydrogen peroxide to soak beef tripe is mainly to make the beef tripe whiter in color and taste more tender.

Can the beef tripe soaked in hydrogen peroxide and alkali still be eaten?

Beef tripe is the stomach of the cow. A cow has four stomachs, and tripe is the cow's omasum, also known as double omasum, tripe, and tripe. The tripe and tripe used in hot pot are made from it. However, there is a black film on the surface of cow stomach, which looks ugly and fades very easily. Therefore, in order to make it more convenient for people to eat, cow stomach needs to be processed.

The beef tripe we often eat comes in different colors, including black, yellow, and white. The yellow ones are usually soaked in caustic soda, while the white ones are soaked in hydrogen peroxide. The black one only needs a simple cleaning and is also safe.

Pyroalkali can be used normally in food

Pyrolyte is the common name for sodium hydroxide, which is highly soluble in water and releases a large amount of heat when dissolved. If you come into direct contact with high concentrations of pyrolyte, it is extremely corrosive and will definitely hurt your hands. However, don't be afraid of it just because it's highly corrosive. Being highly corrosive does not necessarily mean it is harmful to humans, nor is it a reason why it cannot be used in food production.

The premise of the strong corrosiveness of pyroalkali is high concentration. Pyroalkali is used in food, and the food is eventually to be eaten. Food with too high alkalinity is simply impossible to swallow, so no matter how much is added, acid must be added in the end to adjust it back to near neutral. At this time, the pyrolyte has been basically neutralized by the acid and turned into salt, so it will no longer be "corrosive". Currently, countries around the world allow pyrolyte to be used “as needed” in various food processing processes. Our country also allows the use of alkali, and there is no limit on its use. There is no such thing as "excessive use of alkali".

Hydrogen peroxide is a legal food processing aid

Hydrogen peroxide, scientifically known as hydrogen peroxide, can destroy the protoplasm in microorganisms, thereby achieving the purpose of killing microorganisms and disinfecting and sterilizing. Many people are concerned about hydrogen peroxide, in large part because its identity was confused and omitted in previous standards, and it has been wrongly accused in media reports for a long time. However, in the new version of the food additive standard issued in 2014, it obtained the legal status of a "processing aid" and can be used in a variety of foods without any restrictions on its residue amount. In fact, after completing the sterilization process, hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water, produces no toxic residue, does not need to be rinsed with water, and does not pollute the environment. It is a very environmentally friendly disinfectant and a recognized "green chemical" product.

Assessments by various countries also agree that food-grade hydrogen peroxide is very safe in food production. The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), jointly formed by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, believes that the catalase in the intestinal cells of the human body can quickly break down hydrogen peroxide, and ingesting a small amount of hydrogen peroxide will not pose a risk of poisoning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized food-grade hydrogen peroxide as a generally safe substance (GRAS) and can be widely used as a direct or indirect food additive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed hydrogen peroxide and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to show that it is carcinogenic to humans.