Things to note when buying bulk food

According to relevant food safety experts, there are some problems in the consumption of bulk foods that cannot be ignored, which has to attract our high attention. Here, the editor of Qinqin Baby reminds everyone that when buying bulk foods, please pay attention to the following 6 points.

First, be careful when using plastic bags

At present, various kinds of snacks in markets, street shops, and food stalls are attracting many consumers. When some operators sell these foods, they mostly put plastic bags on bowls. This seems hygienic, but actually there are certain safety hazards. The state stipulates that the raw materials of plastic bags used to hold food for direct consumption must meet food grade requirements, and the "QS" mark and words such as "for food use" or "for food only" must be indicated on the smallest sales unit of the product. When purchasing food, consumers should pay attention to whether the plastic bags used to hold food meet the standards.

Second, please note that food-grade plastic bags cannot hold high-temperature food

Operators often use food bags to hold hot foods such as malatang and hot soup, which poses a safety hazard. When food reaches a certain temperature, the chemical components in the plastic bag may seep out, thereby contaminating the food and causing harm to the human body. Even if it is packaged in food-grade plastic bags, long-term consumption may pose a safety hazard.

Third, pay attention to using as few brightly colored disposable straws and plastic cups as possible, and try not to use plastic cups or straws to drink hot drinks.

Last year, the Shenyang Consumer Association conducted a comparative test on disposable plastic bowls, paper cups and plastic straws. The experimental results showed that the quality of 30% of the paper cups, plastic cups and straw samples did not fully meet the standards, mainly because the fluorescent substances and decolorization tests did not meet the standards. Fluorescent substances are not easy to be decomposed and eliminated. Their accumulation in the body will affect the normal development and growth of cells, and in severe cases may cause cell mutations. Artificial synthetic pigments are bright in color and have strong coloring power, but some synthetic pigments are toxic and can cause diarrhea, and may even lead to decreased fertility, teratogenesis, etc. Some pigments may also be converted into carcinogens in the human body.

Fourth, pay attention to whether the sales environment is clean and tidy

When purchasing large-packaged food that is disassembled and sold, pastry food in bulk, or food that is processed and sold on-site, consumers should carefully check whether the operator has facilities or equipment for washing, disinfection, storage, and temperature regulation that meet hygiene requirements. Consumers should be cautious when choosing places with a small, chaotic production and operation environment that cannot guarantee food safety.

Fifth, pay attention to whether the operator's operation is standardized

The Food Safety Law clearly stipulates that sales personnel who sell food that is eaten directly or in bulk and does not require washing must hold a valid health certificate and wear masks, gloves and hats when operating. When consumers purchase these foods, they should be cautious if they find that the employees are not wearing masks, gloves, or hats, or are picking up miscellaneous items while wearing gloves, etc., which may cause the food sold to be cross-contaminated.

6. Pay attention to whether the food label is complete

According to the Food Safety Law, when food operators store and sell bulk food, they must indicate the name of the food, production date, shelf life, producer name and contact information at the storage location and on the outside of the packaging container. When purchasing the above-mentioned foods, consumers should pay attention to the label marks. For foods without labels, or foods whose labels do not contain important information such as food name, production date, shelf life, etc., they should be cautious when purchasing.