Eggs are a unique food in China, and are also known as puffballs because of the pine-needle-like crystallization pattern on their solidified brown egg whites.

The new national standard to delete the leaded process

The new national standard requirements: all lead-free production of eggs, which means that the leaded egg process from now on out of the history stage.

The danger of lead to the human body

Lead is a toxic heavy metal, which is difficult to be discharged after human intake. If you regularly consume food with excessive lead content, it will cause the accumulation of lead in the human body, which will harm the human body's nervous system, blood system, cardiovascular system, skeletal system, etc., leading to lead poisoning. Adults will suffer from fatigue, depression, reproductive disorders, anemia, etc. Pregnant women will experience miscarriages, and children will show hyperactivity, loss of appetite, decreased intelligence, and may suffer from ADHD.

Why did the past eggs contain lead

The traditional recipe for processing eggs added xanthan powder (lead oxide), the purpose is to promote protein coagulation. Nowadays, after improving the process, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, etc. are used instead of lead oxide, and no lead-containing substances are added during the production process, which gives the "lead-free eggs" its name.

In ancient China, the use of lead was not only limited to food, but also used for cosmetic purposes, such as "Lead Hua". For more information, see the book Live to Know Additives.

"Lead-free eggs" are lead-free

"Lead-free eggs" are not lead-free, but the lead content is much lower than the original after improving the process. The new national standard for eggs stipulates that no lead substances should be added to eggs produced in the future, and their lead content must be below 0.5 mg/kg (the original standard stipulates that it should not be greater than 3 mg/kg), which is the same as that of the fish, meat, and tofu that we consume every day.

Why is there a lead content indicator in the standard when it is required that no lead substances should be added to leather eggs? Because the food itself, or water and air contain traces of lead. Therefore, strictly speaking, there is no lead-free eggs, only low lead eggs.

In the future, the market of eggs are "lead-free"

In the future, the packaging of eggs in the ingredient list, generally written in fresh eggs, water, salt, tea (added or not), sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), copper sulfate, and so on, and will not contain powdered rhododendron (lead oxide). In other words, the lead-free process is generally practiced to produce leather eggs. However, there are many bulk eggs in the farmers' market, there is no way to know the manufacturer and ingredients, it is impossible to determine whether the lead-free process production.

Pregnant women and children should eat fewer eggs

Lead-free eggs can be eaten in moderation. For adults, eating them once a week is not a problem. However, pregnant women and children have a higher absorption rate of lead than the general population. In order to reduce the risk, it is recommended that these two groups of people should limit their consumption of eggs and try to eat as little as possible or not eat.

How to identify leaded and unleaded eggs

Is the difference between leaded and unleaded eggs? Not really. The difference between leaded and unleaded eggs is that the eggs are coated and vacuum-packed, which is just a difference in production process.

Shake the egg, vibration size is the point of difference? No, it's not. It's true that the ones with a bigger vibration are of better quality.

Does more black spots on the surface of the egg mean there is ...... lead? Well, the right way. Pickled eggs in the mud (material liquid) in the high content of lead, copper, the egg body surface of the black spot (commonly known as lead spot) tend to be more, therefore, can be used as a basis for identification, and "leaded eggs" is usually darker color, dark gray, and "lead-free eggs" egg body The surface is generally clean and bright, less lead spots.

In addition, try not to buy cracked eggs, cracked eggs in the process of processing is often likely to leach too much alkali.

Secondly, look at the label. With the packaging of the eggs, its food labeling should be marked with the name of the food, ingredient list, the name of the producer or distributor, address, as well as the date of production, shelf life, product standard number, production license number and QS logo. There will certainly be no more yellow dan powder or lead oxide in the ingredients.

At the same time, the current "lead-free eggs" usually highlight the "lead-free" words on the packaging.

Finally, the purchase of eggs should try to buy regular manufacturers, food labeling content is complete prepackaged food. This is the most reliable practice for ordinary consumers.