South Korean instant noodles were exposed to carcinogenic metabolites of ethylene oxide

Food network of partners news recently, with regard to the Korean instant noodles detected ethylene oxide carcinogenic reported substance overwhelming, and once boarded the major news media sites trending, South Korean consumers of instant noodles food of safety issues to worry
.
The Korean food and drug department has now conducted an on-site investigation of the involved companiesand released the results of the investigation on August 17.
It has been confirmed that the manufacturers did not use ethylene oxide in the production process.
is 2-chloro- ethanol (2-chloroethanol), collected the food network of partners this event progress of countries and for ethylene oxide, ethylene chlorohydrin of regulatory -related information for your reference
.

 

1.
Review of Korean instant noodles ethylene oxide incident

 

Recently, the European Union's RASFF early warning system notified that 2-Chloroethanol was detected in instant noodles exported from South Korea to Europe.
On August 13, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) received the notification information and considered that instant noodles are high consumption by the general public.
Food, immediately conducted an on-site investigation of the company involved and recalled related products
.
The incident involved the "Seafood Instant Noodles" produced by the Busan Plant in Nongshim, South Korea, and the "Stir-Fried Rice Cake Instant Noodles" produced by the Paldo Icheon Plant and exported to the United States
.
The results of the investigation showed that both products were all exported after production and were not circulated and sold in Korea.
It has been confirmed that the manufacturer did not use ethylene oxide in the production process
.
The production process of Nongshim’s export products is the same as that of domestic products sold in Korea, but the composition of some raw materials for noodles, powder packs, and mixed vegetables (liquid soup packs) are different
.

 

Investigation results: On August 17, South Korea’s MFDS released the test results of 2-chloroethanol in instant noodles.
Since August 9, MFDS has carried out on-site investigations and collected related products for testing.
The test results showed that no epoxy was detected in the products.
Ethane, and 2-chloroethanol is detected in some products and raw materials, but the detected amount will not cause harm to the human body
.
Among them, 0.
11㎎/㎏ of 2-chloroethanol was detected in the dried green onions in the vegetable packs of Nongshim's exported seafood instant noodles, and 2.
2㎎/㎏ was detected in the vegetable packs sold in the domestic market.
12.
1㎎/㎏ of 2-chloroethanol was detected in the material package
.
South Korean officials said it would trace the source of individual raw materials of related products and require companies to determine the pollution pathways and causes by themselves in order to take corrective measures
.

 

　　Because 2-chloroethanol may be unintentionally contaminated or produced by the product, the Korean MFDS, in consultation with the Food Sanitation Review Committee, formulated a temporary limit standard for 2-chloroethanol for safe management, namely, agricultural, livestock, and aquatic products and their processing.
The product is less than 30㎎/㎏, and the baby food is less than 10㎎/㎏
.

 

　　2.
Analysis of the reason for the notification

 

　　The actually detected substance in instant noodles notified by the European Union is 2-chloroethanol, which is a metabolite of ethylene oxide .
According to EU regulations, the sum of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol is calculated as ethylene oxide.
Therefore, the EU It was notified that ethylene oxide was detected in Korean instant noodles
.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has classified ethylene oxide as a first-class carcinogen that is harmful to humans
.
The Korean Food and Drug Administration stated that the 2-chloroethanol detected in the instant noodles was not carcinogenic
.
Let's take a look at ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol together
.

 

　　What is ethylene oxide?

 

　　Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with a chemical formula of C2H4O.
It is widely used for sterilization.
At present, ethylene oxide fumigation is widely used for sterilization of medical devices; it is a first-class carcinogen
.
On October 27, 2017, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer released a preliminary list of carcinogens for reference.
Ethylene oxide is in the list of first class carcinogens; Ethylene oxide has a good sterilization effect, but the disadvantage is that it is carcinogenic.
Long-term exposure to ethylene oxide can cause acute poisoning, with mild symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and more severe symptoms such as weakness of the hands and feet and muscular tremors throughout the body.
In severe cases, coma may occur.
Symptoms
.
Some countries use ethylene oxide as a fumigant and disinfectant for agricultural products, and it is widely used for disinfection of hospital equipment and medical supplies
.
In addition, ethylene oxide is also used as a raw material for the production of various compounds such as ethylene glycol, glycol ethers and surfactants
.

 

　　What is the relationship between ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol?

 

　　Ethylene oxide is used in some countries to sterilize spice, cereal flour and other products.
After reacting with chlorine, 2-chloroethanol can be produced.
2-chloroethanol is a reaction product of ethylene oxide and an intermediate of ethylene oxide.
, By-products, but also exist in the environment, can be produced through various chemical reactions, non-carcinogenic
.
The results of the Korean risk assessment show that the exposure of all people over 3 years old to 2-chloroethanol through consumption of this product is at a risk-free level
.

　　3.
The regulation of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol in various countries

 

　　Ethylene oxide is an unregistered pesticide in South Korea.
According to the positive list system, the 0.
01 ppm standard is implemented.
2-Chloroethanol can be derived from the environment or naturally produced.
South Korea has not set a residue limit standard.
Through this incident, South Korea MFDS has set a temporary limit standard, that is, agricultural, livestock and aquatic products and their processed products ≤30㎎/㎏, and food for infants and young children ≤10㎎/㎏
.

 

　　In addition, the United States and Canada are also different from the European Union in that 2-chloroethanol and ethylene oxide are managed separately
.
The United States and Canada stipulate that ethylene oxide in foods, medicines, etc.
is 7-50ppm, 2-chloroethanol is 940ppm, and the European Union stipulates that the sum of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol is 0.
02-0.
1 ppm in terms of ethylene oxide.
, Other countries have not set standards, the specific requirements of each country are as follows:

　　4.
Event inspired

 

　　From the above incidents, we can see that different countries have different supervision of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol, which directly affects the import and export trade of food and the purchasing power of consumers.
The Food Partner Network provides the following suggestions for reference from all walks of life:

 

　　(1) Food-related companies should improve product quality, carry out strict quality control throughout the entire process from product raw materials to product production, realize the traceability management of the entire product process, target problems, and take corrective measures in a timely manner
.

 

　　(2) Enterprises should actively understand the requirements of relevant domestic and foreign laws and regulations, and understand the possible risk points of similar products, so as to take timely measures to avoid risks
.

 

　　(3) Regulatory authorities actively collect food-related safety incidents at home and abroad, refer to foreign regulations and standards, regularly carry out relevant risk assessments, and improve relevant domestic regulations and standards to guide export companies to avoid similar risks
.
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Nongshim responded that related products are not imported and sold in China.