Which soda Na2CO3 is used as fish sauce?

According to the latest regulation on the list of food additives allowed to be used (issued in August 2019), Na ₂ CO ₃ (soda) is in the list, allowed to be used as a foaming agent, acidity regulator, antifreeze, stabilizer, thickener.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Duy Thinh - food technology expert, soda allowed to use in food production is food soda , not industrial soda .

"Industrial soda is not used in food production because this soda is not refined and also contains impurities, in impurities can have heavy metals and this is the component that affects health" , Mr. Thinh said.

Na2CO3 is used in food, but it must be pure.

Mr. Thinh also said that when using food soda to produce fish sauce, the amount needed is very small to hydrolyze fish faster.

Master Phan Thi Hong Lien - in charge of food technology department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry - also confirmed that Na ₂ CO ₃ is used in food, but it must be pure and must be in a safe dose. safety according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health .

"Na ₂ CO ₃ used in food is much more expensive than Na ₂ CO ₃ used in industry. Na ₂ CO ₃ used in industry of low purity, there are many impurities that have not separated in the past. The residual production process, if used to produce fish sauce, is very dangerous, " Ms Lien added.

She added that these impurities are harmful to health, not Na ₂ CO ₃ . The level of poisoning depends on the type of residue (such as copper, lead, iron .), which can cause poisoning (depending on the level), or cause illness for food users.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Hoang - Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Plant Protection Hanoi University of Technology, in international convention, Na ₂ CO ₃ in food is denoted as E500i, while NaHCO ₃ is E500ii.

Both are food additives and are licensed by the Ministry of Health (Appendix 1 issued with Circular 24/2019 / TT-BYT) as "foaming agents, acidity regulators, antifreeze, emulsified salts, stabilizers, thickeners ". However, because NaHCO ₃ (E500ii) is slightly alkaline, it is used more than Na ₂ CO ₃ .

"Na ₂ CO ₃ used in food must be pure and allowed level. And Na ₂ CO ₃ used in industry always has strong detergent impurities, it is prohibited to use in food. If used Food contaminated with industrial Na ₂ CO ₃ (mixed with impurities) certainly affects human health ".

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