Exposed! Can you eat the grilled sausages that cost 2 yuan each on the street?

Expert of this article: Pa Lize, Chief Physician of Nutrition, Science Popularization Committee Member of Chinese Nutrition Society

How many people would buy grilled sausages for 2 yuan each on the street?

It's delicious when it's sizzling on the grill.

But even though people are enjoying eating it, many people are still worried about whether they can eat a sausage that costs 2 yuan a piece? What kind of meat is it made of? Is it harmful to the body?

Let’s talk about it today.

What kind of meat is the 2 dollar grilled sausage on the street made of?

Instant meat products such as ham and grilled sausages have evolved from primitive sausage-like meat products made by early humans for the purpose of maximizing the use of food resources.

Initially, people separated the edible parts of a whole cow or pig carcass that were suitable for simple cooking, and then chopped up the various scraps of meat, fat and other by-products produced during the process, added salt and stuffed them into the intestines or stomach of the animal to make sausages. Later, in order to extend the shelf life, people also used fermentation, air-drying, cooking and smoking methods.

Now

Nowadays, whether it is the ham sausage fried on the street and then rolled in chili powder and cumin powder, or the various flavored sausages grilled in convenience stores using special sausage grilling machines, they are basically made from the scraps of livestock and poultry and aquatic products (bitter meat, skin and other fat), with equal or more other edible ingredients added, using the "freshness-locking" technology of modern food science, to create low-temperature meat products with traditional Chinese flavor.

The so-called "freshness-locking" technology is actually to use specific mechanical force and appropriate time to add starch, water, salt, sugar, humectant, thickener, colorant, preservative and flavor to the minced meat, skin and fat pieces, and then roll and knead them into collagen casings and sterilize them.

Because the raw materials used are cheap and readily available, the process is simple and the production efficiency is extremely high, it is not surprising that its price is lower than that of raw meat of the same weight.

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In addition, the 2-yuan grilled sausages made with this recipe and craftsmanship have thin, firm and shiny casings, and the inside is crystal clear, plump, moist and tender. You can smell the meaty aroma before you even put it in your mouth, and the taste is full of meat.

Can I eat grilled sausage that costs 2 yuan each?

While many people are wondering whether the grilled sausages that cost 2 yuan each are genuine, more people are afraid of the harm to the human body caused by the additives in the sausage ingredients.

In fact, because of the presence of additives, humans have largely avoided the risk of other factors that may have greater toxic effects on the body.

For example, nitrite, a color enhancer in grilled sausages, can actually kill the botulinum bacteria that contaminate meat products and prevent the production of deadly botulinum toxin. In addition, the amount of each additive is also added in strict accordance with the "Food Additives Use Standard (GB2760)".

Convenience stores that sell grilled sausages have a complete certification system and purchase goods from formal channels, so you can eat a few sausages occasionally without worrying about the harm of sausage additives to your body.

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However, if you eat two crispy grilled sausages (about 50g/stick) at a time, the sodium intake is equivalent to nearly 50% of the daily intake required by an adult (2000mg), while the fat intake is as high as 80% of the daily requirement.

From this point of view, from a nutritional perspective: although the protein content of grilled sausage is not low, its sodium and fat content are too high, so it is not a recommended food for food diversification, and should not be included in the collective meal menu of kindergartens and primary and secondary schools. Please note that eating grilled sausage frequently may increase the risk of obesity and high blood pressure.

Figure 1. Nutritional composition of ham and crispy (grilled) sausage

Excerpted from: Yang Yuexin, "Chinese Food Composition Table 2004 Volume 2"

How to choose grilled sausages when buying them yourself?

Grilled sausages are delicious, easy to carry, easy to store and simple to process. They are suitable as one of the essential foods for occasional temporary gatherings at work and school, camping picnics, and long-distance driving trips.

But when choosing grilled sausages, pay attention to the following points:

Look at the label on the sausage packaging

Generally, few people ask the store clerk who sells electric grilled sausages for the sausage packaging in order to check the ingredients list and nutrition label. Convenience stores also buy large packages of sausages and sell them individually. However, understanding the ingredients list and nutrition label is the legal right of consumers to know, and it is also the primary condition for deciding whether to choose or not.

Specify the time that the sausages should be kept on the grill

Generally speaking, it is difficult for sausage sellers to guarantee that they are freshly baked and sold. If the sausages are left on the grill for more than a few hours after being unpacked, there is a risk that they will be contaminated by harmful microorganisms and other substances in the environment, which may cause food poisoning.

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Pay attention to the hygiene of the electric sausage roaster

If the electric sausage grill is not cleaned regularly and regularly, the oil may be repeatedly heated to produce carcinogens such as 3,4-benzopyrene, acrylamide, and trans fatty acids, which are very likely to contaminate the grilled sausage.

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