China’s Ministry of Health (MOH) lately calls for comments on Principles of Food Flavor and Fragrance (Draft for Comments). More than 20 kinds of foodstuff including milk are banned to add food flavor and fragrance. Dairy safety becomes a society focus again. Mr. Chen Lianfang, a BOABC analyst answered media’s questions about the topic in recent.

Is it necessary to add food flavor or fragrance in dairy products like milk, fermented milk and baby formula powder?

It’s no necessary indeed. Of course, I don’t mean food flavor and fragrance is useless in any case. Because human has various demands for flavors and the demands are ever-changing. Natural flavor or fragrance of food sometimes can not meet the demands, so we have to add flavor and fragrance. However, due to improper propaganda, people are panic about additives. Certain food products are even claimed “no flavor or fragrance” to cater for consumers. That leads to misunderstandings.

 

The reason why I object adding flavor or fragrance into milk, fermented milk and baby formula powder is that milk or fermented milk has original flavor which could meet consumers’ demands. More important, it can help consumers recognize natural dairy better. If consumers lack scientific knowledge of dairy, adding unnecessary flavor or fragrance could mislead consumers, damage the consumers' right to know and give rise to market disorder.

 

Forbidding flavor and fragrance in baby formula powder is for protecting babies’ health. Adding additives could increase the babies’ digestive burden and cause children picky about food.

 

Some dairy manufacturers make dairy flavoring and thick to cater for consumers’ taste. Flavor and fragrance is not a main ingredient of products, therefore many companies do not mark the additives on labels to deceive consumers. If the Draft for Comments can be approved, how Chinese dairy market would be impacted?

At present, related regulations and standards are not sufficient in Chinese dairy industry, in addition to lack of supervision, dairy market is in disorder. Consumers’ right is damaged and the entire industry is impacted. If the Draft for Comments can be approved, manufacturers actions could be regulated that will help protect consumers, improve market and promote sustainable development of Chinese dairy industry.

 

The Draft only covers milk, fermented milk and baby formula powder, but milk beverage is excluded. How will milk beverage be supervised in future?

The flavors of dairy products are getting more various that requires food flavor and fragrance. In developed countries, food flavor and fragrance is applied more widely. Of course, food additives must be assessed scientifically to prove it is harmless to human health. In certain particular food products, we should make sure which kinds of flavor and fragrance can be added and what the maximum limits are. Also, it is absolutely essential to strengthen supervision to avoid loopholes.