Dispatch:
Industrial dyes, insecticides and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives that China released yesterday as part of a months long government crackdown aimed at improving the country's shoddy food-safety record.
Among the 17 banned substances is boric acid, commonly used as an insecticide. It is mixed with noodles and meatballs to increase elasticity, a statement posted on the Ministry of Health's Web site said.
Also forbidden are industrial formaldehyde and lye. Normally used in making soap and drain cleaners, they also have been used to make some types of dried seafood appear fresher and bigger.....
The article goes on to note that these stricter regulations are the result of the scandal resulting from the melamine in the baby formula. With so many products being imported these days, it is more important to take the time to read the labels.
