Food coating agents for foods and vegetables

When you walk into the supermarket, you will see a variety of imported fruits. The smooth, shiny colors look very attractive, so children like to eat very much. But some people may say to be cautious about waxy fruits and vegetables, otherwise they may cause food poisoning. true? Is waxing really harmful to the body? Why do fruits and vegetables need to be waxed? To ensure freshness and taste, imported fruits are usually waxed. Since most fruits and vegetables will begin to degenerate when harvested, their freshness and nutritional value will be greatly reduced.

1. The concept of food coating agent

You may be biased against food additives. You will feel whether they will harm your body. Some food additives are really bad. However, food-grade food coatings such as coatings and films for fruits and vegetables are very safe.

The coating agent is edible and therefore safe. The fruit is coated with a thin film, which can inhibit evaporation, prevent microbial invasion and form a gas layer, so it can extend the shelf life of the fruit. Chocolate and surface-coated candies look bright. It can also prevent adhesion and maintain the stability of its quality. By the way, coated rice can enhance nutrition, coloring and flavor during processing, reduce nutrient loss to a certain extent, and have a good aroma effect.

2. Functions of Food coating agents

Food coating agents use paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, etc. to preserve fruits and vegetables. So, are these waxes safe? These are food-grade chemicals and will not harm the human body.

Is wax harmful to humans? Waxing requires professional production lines as well as soaking, cleaning, filtering and many other procedures, so the cost increases. Generally, cheap fruits and vegetables will not be waxed, because this will increase costs, and waxing can be achieved by simple manual spraying. In addition, some fruits and vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, and green peppers look very smooth and bright. But fruit waxing must use permitted food additives, and add an appropriate amount according to the actual usage. Imported fruits or high-grade fruits will use coating agents in order to keep them fresh, which is not easy to digest. It will not be absorbed and will be excreted even after eating. Most importantly, it is harmless to health. However, substandard waxes or industrial waxes used for fruits and vegetables can cause harm to the body.

How to avoid substandard wax or industrial wax? The citizens need to carefully clean waxed fruits and vegetables. For example, repeated use of alkaline water for cleaning, it is best to peel the food.

3. Food coating agent- used for edible film/coating and food packaging

There was news that Apple put a thick layer of industrial wax on it? No. You need to distinguish between industrial wax and food grade wax. Food-grade paraffin wax is mainly used for food processing and demolding, food packaging, etc. It is also used in places where oral tablets are directly contacted such as the mouth of medicines. It is even used for polishing sugar-coated tablets. Influence, you can eat some.

The widely used coating agents include shellac, paraffin wax (paraffin wax; microcrystalline wax), morpholine fatty acid salt (fruit wax), mineral oil (white oil; petroleum petrolatum), pentaerythritol ester of rosin (pentaerythritol ester of rosin), etc. They can prevent the invasion of microorganisms, inhibit the evaporation or absorption of water, and regulate the respiration of food. Used in frozen and solid powder foods to prevent surface wetting or quality loss. If some preservatives, antioxidants and emulsifiers are added to the coating agent, a composite type of cling film can be made. They are mainly used for the preservation of fruits, vegetables, candy, eggs and other foods.