Additive blacklist is latest ingredient in food safety fight

BEIJING - In the wake of a series of scandals about the safety of food and drink in China, a committee under the State Council, or China's Cabinet, has published on Saturday a list of 151 ingredients and additives that have been banned during the past nine years.

The blacklist publicized by the food safety committee contains 47 "inedible" materials that have been used in the production of food, 22 additives that are open to abuse and 82 substances that are not allowed in animal feed or water.

Tonyred, an industrial coloring agent, and "lean meat powder", which is also called ractopamine and that promotes fat-free meat when fed to livestock, are among the materials listed.