MCDONALD'S China operation yesterday said two food additives in the Chicken McNuggets sold in China are in line with national standards and pose no risks to consumers' health.
A recent CNN investigation found that McDonald's all white meat Chicken McNuggets sold in the United States contain the chemical preservative tBHQ, a petroleum-based tertiary butylhydroquinone. The nuggets also contain dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent.
The tBHQ additive is normally used for preserving vegetable oils and animal fats. The chemical dimethylpolysiloxane is a form of silicone that is also used in cosmetics and Silly Putty.
Yesterday, a statement from McDonald's China unit said the Chicken McNuggets on the Chinese market also contained these two chemicals.
The company, which runs 1,100 restaurants in mainland China, said "the amount of the two additives in McNuggets is within the limits of national standard and pose no health risks to consumer."
Shanghai health experts urged consumers to pay more attention to food additives - even those receiving a government OK - and to adopt balanced dining habits for better health.
"Most of the food additives are used to improve tastes or necessary during processing. But frequently eating those food with additives may trigger accumulation impact and bring potential risks for health," said Han Ting, head of the nutrition division from the Shanghai No. 10 People's Hospital.
"So from the perspective of health, we always encourage people to eat more fresh food with no additives," Han noted.
CNN noted that the World Health Organization found "no adverse health effects" associated with dimethylpolysiloxane, based on animal tests.
McDonald's said the additives are needed to keep the nuggets to hold shape and texture, and won't endanger consumers' health.
Part of the reason is that the chicken nuggets contain small amount of those additives. McDonald's said the amount of tBHQ is limited to 0.02 gram in each piece of the nuggets.
One gram of the stuff can cause "nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse," according to "A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives."
According to China's Standards on food additives, both chemicals are legal, but allowed only for specific foods in limited amounts to ensure food safety.
The tBHQ is allowed for use in edible oils and fats, fried foodstuff, dried fish products, biscuits, instant noodles and canned food for preservation. The most that's allowed is 0.2 gram per kilogram. The chemical may also be used in cosmetics.
The dimethylpolysiloxane can be used in meat products and beer to a maximum of 0.2 gram per kilogram, and in fresh fruits and vegetables at 0.0009 gram per kilogram on China's mainland.
Local health experts warned that although both chemicals are allowable in food processing, they could still bring potential health risks if taken in excessive amounts.