Many people like this kind of food, but I advise you: don’t buy any!

Purely handmade beef jerky, homemade snacks, additive-free handmade foods, homemade plum wine... Nowadays, more and more people are attracted by these "handmade foods" and are rushing to buy them.

People believe that handmade foods are natural, additive-free, and made with traditional craftsmanship. Coupled with the familiar production process, they can evoke warm memories of family and loved ones for those who work hard outside. Therefore, many people are willing to spend more money to buy these handmade foods.

In addition, people may think of those "craftsmen" who have unique skills for many years. They value the spirit of craftsmanship and use high-quality ingredients to make unforgettable handmade foods in their own homes or small yards.

However, are artisanal foods really as nutritious, delicious, and safe as described?

Myth 1: Handmade food is more nutritious and delicious

Natural and "traditional craft" does not mean more nutritious and delicious .

One of the important reasons why handmade food is popular is that its taste may be more intimate, and the production process pays more attention to details and the "soul" of taste adjustment - these are exactly what industrial production line food cannot guarantee. Familiar tastes can easily evoke emotions and memories related to maternal love and grandmother's taste, and feel the warmth and understanding they convey.

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But this does not mean that handmade food is better, it just meets the taste and emotional needs of some people . In terms of details and differences, different people have different taste choices and quality standards, and this process varies from person to person, and there is no absolute standard.

In terms of nutritional content, there is no essential difference between handmade food and industrialized food . Although some handmade foods are more willing to promote "real ingredients", the actual significance may not be great, and we should even be wary of its safety.

Myth 2: Handmade food is safer

Natural and additive-free does not mean safer .

There is room for discussion in terms of taste, but there are indeed greater risks in the safety of artisan food .

The first is the issue of legality and compliance. A closer look reveals that many handmade foods are actually "three-no products" without a production address, production license, or production date.
When you buy food only through a WeChat account, you cannot guarantee whether it comes from a small workshop with no supervision and random inspection, no professional training, and no product standards .

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The sanitary conditions of food production, the procurement channels and quality of raw materials, packaging materials and transportation conditions are all out of control. There is not even a food production and operation license and a health certificate for production personnel, and the products have not been sampled and tested.

The second is the issue of additive-free. Yes, it is not necessarily a good thing that handmade food has no additives. Many people believe that "additive-free" handmade food is safer and more reliable, but this assumption is not necessarily true . Because the production level and environment vary, it is difficult to ensure the stability of product quality. Lack of good transportation guarantees and shelf life requirements, the growth of bacteria, mold and other microorganisms is also difficult to control, which can easily lead to food problems.

In fact, we don't need to worry too much about food additives. Take benzoic acid (sodium) and sorbic acid (potassium), two commonly used food preservatives in my country, for example. They both have clear usage methods and dosage standards.

On the contrary, in the absence of regulation, the uncertainty about whether additives are used and what additives are used is more worrying .

Popular handmade foods

1. Homemade wine

Homemade wine has become a popular artisanal food, but it carries many risks.

First, there may be problems with the raw materials of homemade wine . Due to the lack of monitoring and testing, the raw materials may contain toxic and harmful substances, such as heavy metals and pesticide residues. These substances may affect health after ingestion, and even lead to serious consequences.

Secondly, the production and packaging process of homemade wine is prone to contamination . Due to the lack of professional equipment and process flow, bacteria and other harmful substances can easily contaminate the wine during the brewing or packaging process, resulting in a decline in wine quality and increased health risks.

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Methanol is a harmful substance that needs special attention. Methanol is difficult to excrete in the human body, and excessive intake may cause damage to the central nervous system or even blindness. Since homemade wine lacks professional equipment to control the concentration of methanol in the wine, the risk of methanol intake in homemade wine is greater than that of formally produced wine .

Therefore, the market supervision bureaus in some regions have explicitly prohibited small workshops, small grocery stores, and small restaurants from operating homemade wine, etc. Some regions have also issued risk warnings for homemade wine consumption.

2. Make your own pickles and kimchi

Some homemade kimchi left out in the open in markets and restaurants may be risky and are not recommended for purchase or consumption.

First, the storage and processing environment may be unsanitary, and improper operation can easily lead to the introduction of bacteria, which can increase the production of nitrite. At the same time, the risk of contamination is high, which can bring about microbial hazards .

Secondly, it is impossible to judge whether the storage time and nitrite content of kimchi are appropriate . Nitrite forms nitrosamines with protein decomposition products, which may increase the risk of cancer. Usually, the nitrite content in kimchi is low after 20 days.

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Even if you buy kimchi in regular packaging, you must follow the instructions on the package to keep it away from light and cool. Eat it as soon as possible after opening or keep it in the refrigerator.

3. Bulk dried fruits

There are risks in selling bulk dried fruits through some live-streaming e-commerce platforms and roadside shops.

First, bulk sales are prone to dust and microbial contamination (especially mold) . In addition, there are also problems such as the use of expired or spoiled raw materials, excessive additives, and illegal additives for coloring and flavoring .

For example, some dried fruit manufacturers who claim to be "handmade" may add excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide, sodium cyclamate, flavors, pigments and other additives in order to make the products more colorful and keep them fresher. These problems have been exposed in related news events.

Large supermarkets and regular e-commerce channels have the ability to screen and control the supply chain, and can be held accountable if problems occur. However, many homemade dried fruit merchants cannot ensure the cleanliness of the sales environment. Therefore, when choosing handmade foods, please pay attention to the purchase channels and storage methods to ensure food safety.

4. Homemade Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is a food that is prone to problems, and we often see news reports about it containing excessive amounts of preservatives.

This is because beef jerky has high requirements for disinfection and storage environment hygiene during the production process. At the same time, if the raw materials are not strictly screened, they may contain heavy metals, drug residues and other problems . Therefore, it is more reliable to choose a reputable big brand.

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In addition, some products such as handmade brown sugar may have smaller safety risks, but their nutritional value is nothing special, so there is no need to buy them.

Recommendation : Choosing handmade foods should be based on a balance between personal taste, nutritional needs and emotional needs. We need to think rationally, respect and cherish those handmade foods that are full of emotions and memories , while exercising consumer rights and choosing products that meet safety standards .

In this way, we can better appreciate the deliciousness of handmade food and feel the emotional resonance and satisfaction that food conveys.

Food safety is of vital importance, and we should have higher requirements and attention to food quality and safety. By avoiding buying food without basic guarantees, we can drive the entire food industry in a better direction.

Author: Gu Zhongyi, Director of Beijing Nutritionist Association, Registered Nutritionist

Review | Han Hongwei, Researcher at the National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center