December 2, 2016
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko on December 1 at a House TPP Special Committee meeting revealed that in bilateral negotiations in parallel with the TPP, Japan promised to the United States an increase in the use of dangerous aluminum-containing food additives.
Aluminum-based food additives are widely used in bakery products like muffins and other food products. However, as these additives are internationally known to be highly toxic, the Japanese Health Ministry requires the food industry to take measures to curb children’s intake of such additives.
Kira noted that in the Japan-U.S. addendum to the TPP, Japan agreed to remove four aluminum additives from its list of banned food additives. She pointed out that among the four additives, the use of aluminum calcium silicate is banned by international organizations. Kira criticized the government for endangering children’s health and overall food safety to meet the U.S. demand.
Furthermore, the JCP lawmaker pointed out that successive Japanese governments have been relaxing restrictions on food additives due to demand by the U.S. government. In 1982, for example, 11 out of 128 prohibited food additives were approved as ingredients for foods and in 2002, the then health minister gave the greenlight to the use of ferrocyanide-containing additives without following the ministry’s prescribed procedure, Kira explained.
Citing the fact that the U.S. Trade Representative in the 2016 report regarding barriers to American exports indicated the need to push Japan to significantly loosen its regulations on food additives, Kira grilled the government about whether it would accept further U.S. demands for deregulation in future bilateral negotiations.
Health Minister Shiozaki Yasuhisa replied, “Japan’s guidelines need to be maintained.”
Past related articles:
> TPP allows no option to buy safe cosmetic products [November 5, 2016]
> TPP will increase supply of imported foods containing high levels of residual pesticides: JCP Saito [October 19, 2016]
> TPP to threaten food safety [November 1, 2011]
Aluminum-based food additives are widely used in bakery products like muffins and other food products. However, as these additives are internationally known to be highly toxic, the Japanese Health Ministry requires the food industry to take measures to curb children’s intake of such additives.
Kira noted that in the Japan-U.S. addendum to the TPP, Japan agreed to remove four aluminum additives from its list of banned food additives. She pointed out that among the four additives, the use of aluminum calcium silicate is banned by international organizations. Kira criticized the government for endangering children’s health and overall food safety to meet the U.S. demand.
Furthermore, the JCP lawmaker pointed out that successive Japanese governments have been relaxing restrictions on food additives due to demand by the U.S. government. In 1982, for example, 11 out of 128 prohibited food additives were approved as ingredients for foods and in 2002, the then health minister gave the greenlight to the use of ferrocyanide-containing additives without following the ministry’s prescribed procedure, Kira explained.
Citing the fact that the U.S. Trade Representative in the 2016 report regarding barriers to American exports indicated the need to push Japan to significantly loosen its regulations on food additives, Kira grilled the government about whether it would accept further U.S. demands for deregulation in future bilateral negotiations.
Health Minister Shiozaki Yasuhisa replied, “Japan’s guidelines need to be maintained.”
Past related articles:
> TPP allows no option to buy safe cosmetic products [November 5, 2016]
> TPP will increase supply of imported foods containing high levels of residual pesticides: JCP Saito [October 19, 2016]
> TPP to threaten food safety [November 1, 2011]
