New Food Additive Standards for 2025 Ban Various Uses of Dehydroacetic Acid

On February 8, 2025, the National Food Safety Standard for Food Additive Usage (GB 2760-2024) will be officially implemented. The implementation of this standard has attracted significant attention from the food industry and consumers, as it directly relates to food production compliance and consumer health safety.

In this update of the standard, the regulations regarding the use of the food additive dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt have undergone significant adjustments. The use of dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt is explicitly banned in various food categories, including butter and concentrated butter, starch products, bread, pastries, baking fillings and coatings, pre-cooked meat products, canned meat, and fruit and vegetable juices (purees). Additionally, the maximum usage amount of dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt in pickled vegetables has been drastically reduced from 1.0 g/kg to 0.3 g/kg.

The adjustment of the usage regulations for the food additive dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt may be based on various considerations. From a technical necessity perspective, the use of sodium dehydroacetate in certain food categories is no longer critical. From a public health standpoint, although sodium dehydroacetate is a low-toxicity, highly effective broad-spectrum preservative, long-term consumption may negatively affect the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system, and may even increase cancer risk. Moreover, China's food additive usage standards are aligning with international standards, leading to adjustments in response to updates in developed countries' standards and the latest scientific research findings. For example, the U.S. FDA revoked the approval for sodium dehydroacetate in certain foods at the end of last year, while Japan and South Korea have also set strict limits on its usage and maximum allowable amounts.

To ensure compliance and controllability of dehydroacetic acid and its sodium salt in foods, relevant detection standards and methods have also been improved. In terms of detection standards, GB 5009.121-2016 "National Food Safety Standard for the Determination of Dehydroacetic Acid in Foods" applies to various food items, including fruit and vegetable juices, pickled vegetables, fermented soybean products, butter, bread, pastries, baking fillings, compound seasonings, pre-cooked meat products, and cooked meat products. Furthermore, GB/T 23377-2009 "Determination of Dehydroacetic Acid in Foods by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry" provides multiple detection pathways.

On January 9, the Beijing Municipal Market Supervision Bureau and the Beijing Consumers' Association jointly issued a consumer alert. They reminded consumers to carefully check the ingredient lists of pre-packaged foods, especially items like cookies, noodles, ham sausages, and juices that may involve such additives. Consumers are advised to prioritize purchasing food from legitimate channels and to properly store them according to the indicated storage conditions on the labels, ensuring consumption within the shelf life. Additionally, food production enterprises should promptly study the new standards, optimize product formulations, and upgrade production processes to ensure products comply with national food safety standards, safeguarding consumers' safety. With the implementation of the new standards, the collective efforts of all parties are expected to propel the food industry into a safer and more regulated new phase.