Experts refute rumors about 'poisonous' instant noodles  

网传吃一碗方便面要花32天解毒 专家称传言不可信

国家食品安全风险评估中心助理研究员王华丽表示：“虽然《食品添加剂使用标准》规定方便面中允许使用约25种食品添加剂，但考虑到工艺的必要性和成本因素，25种食品添加剂不可能同时添加，例如已经使用β—胡萝卜素就没有必要使用同一功能的着色剂如核黄素。” [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Health experts have come out against online rumors that instant noodles contain poisonous ingredients, the People's Daily said on Tuesday.

The rumors have claimed that a package of instant noodles contains 25 kinds of food additives, including many preservatives and antioxidants. The rumors also said it takes the liver 32 days to break down the "poisons" in one bowl of instant noodles.

Gelatin and caustic soda have been added to dried noodles, which are not stomach-friendly, the rumors said.

To figure out whether the rumors are true or not, reporters chose three brands of instant noodles and sent them for testing by experts.

No preservatives were detected in any of the noodle products, and the amount of antioxidants found was also within safety standards.

"It is impossible for manufacturers to add all of the 25 kinds of food additives into one instant noodle product, since it is totally unnecessary to do so," said Wang Huali, an assistant researcher at the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment.

"If β-Carotene is added into instant noodles as a colorant, other additives that boast the same function, like riboflavin, are not necessary," said Wang.

The dried noodles and the packets of flavoring powder in them contain little water, so there is no need to add preservatives to them, he added. And the seasoning sauces sold with the noodles have undergone high temperature pasteurization, so there is also no need to add preservatives.

As to the gelatin and caustic soda found in dried noodles, an expert from Jiangnan University says these additives are safe to eat and enhance the flavor of noodles.

Instant noodles are not healthy, but it is unfair to call it "poisonous food," he said.