Japan Approves the Use of 4 Food Additives

On Jan. 15, 2021, MHLW unveiled the amendment to "Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act". It stated that Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfite Water, Chitin-glucan, Dipotassium DL-Tartrate and Polyvinylimidazole - polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymers are considered to be harmless to the human body and they are permitted to be used in food. In addition, their specifications and usage standards are specified in the "Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives, etc." This amendment came to effect from the date of promulgation.

Notably, Dipotassium DL-Tartrate can only be used in Grape liquor. Besides, Chitin-glucan and Polyvinylimidazole - polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymers must be removed in the final food.