What to do if your child accidentally ingests preservatives

Generally, preservatives are found in puffed foods and some perishable food packaging bags. Preservatives are packaged in individual small bags and are usually in granular form. The preservative bags will have a note saying they are not edible. Parents should keep an eye on their children and tell them that preservatives are not allowed to be consumed to avoid poisoning of their children. So, what should we do if our children accidentally ingest preservatives?

1. If you accidentally eat silicone preservatives, this preservative cannot be absorbed when you taste it and will be excreted from the body with feces. It is not toxic to the human body. Unless the baby has special reactions such as dizziness, vomiting, etc., there is generally no need to seek medical attention.

2. If the baby accidentally ingests quicklime preservatives, which have an irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract and may damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, give the baby milk immediately, 10 ml of milk per kilogram of body weight, and then send the baby to the hospital for treatment immediately.

3. If unlabeled preservatives are accidentally ingested, parents must pay special attention to the form of the preservatives. Silica gel is a transparent ball, and quicklime is a white block that turns into powder when it gets wet. Parents can take different measures according to different situations.

1. Choose products of good quality

When purchasing food and beverages, try to buy reputable products whose quality can stand the test of the market, because the preservatives used in such products are more cautious and safer, and the labeling is often more truthful.

2. Choose foods containing natural preservatives

Whenever possible, choose foods containing natural preservatives to ensure that your health is not harmed.

Preservatives are mostly added to foods. Potassium sorbate is a food preservative that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms, extend the shelf life of products, and provide protection for food storage, processing, and sales. Sorbate is also recognized as one of the safest food preservatives in the world and is widely used internationally.

Sorbic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that can directly participate in fat metabolism in the body and is finally oxidized into carbon dioxide and water, so it is almost non-toxic. The dosage of preservatives is a key factor affecting health safety. Excessive injection of sorbic acid can cause metabolic disorders.