This food is suddenly popular! But be careful...

As summer vacation begins, many children are attracted to "food toys" that are like "playing house". However, it should be noted that these "food toys" are mostly made of sugar and pigments, which pose health risks to children during the hands-on operation. Parents should carefully identify and guide them.

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It is popular for its ability to eat and play

Recently, many young people have posted "cooking" videos on social platforms. They open the package, take out a few packets of powder, stir and knead, and after a few minutes, realistic-looking miniature food can be easily "baked". When these videos are labeled "food play", they often attract nearly a million views.

The reporter visited and found that "food toys" can also be seen on the food shelves of some supermarkets in Nanning. Most of them are classified in the candy shelves, mainly making "ice cream", "sushi" and "hamburgers". The outer packaging of these "food toys" is mostly colorful, and looks more like a box of toys than a snack.

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Parents are worried about their children eating after playing

Ms. Yang bought "food toys" for her children. She told the reporter that her children ate all the "food" after pinching it out. She was a little worried: "Although the merchant marked it as 'edible' on the outer packaging, I always feel that it is a bit unhygienic for the children to play with it and then put it in their mouths."

On a shopping platform, netizens commented that the "food toys" were not tasty. Screenshot from the Internet

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There are risks and guidance is needed

Why does the sugar powder in "food toys" change into "ramen" and "hamburgers" by just stirring? What exactly do we eat? In this regard, the reporter interviewed Mr. Du, a teacher majoring in food science and engineering at a university in Guangxi.

Teacher Du told reporters that most of these "food toys" use a common reaction in food processing: sodium alginate and calcium salts form gel. Sodium alginate is a common thickener in food. It will become a viscous liquid when dissolved in water, and calcium ions can promote cross-linking between the molecular chains of alginate, which turns the viscous liquid into a gel.

"Most of the substances that react here are food additives and flavorings. Although they are safe as long as they are added according to the regulations, what you eat is basically sugar."

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"This type of product has the functions of both toys and food, and there are certain risks." Yao Hua, director of the Institute of Sociology of the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, believes that children's play with "food toys" is not done under strict sterile conditions and may be contaminated with bacteria and germs in the process. At the same time, such products also contain some additives that will cause certain harm to children's health.

Yao Hua suggested that parents should carefully identify "food toys" and guide their children correctly, such as providing a clean environment for children when playing. In addition, relevant departments should also strengthen supervision of such products.

Source: Nanfang Morning Post (Reporters: Liu Yu, Lu Xinnan)

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