Substances commonly used as industrial dyes, insecticides and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives aimed at improving China's shoddy food safety record, AP reported. Among the 17 banned substances was boric acid, commonly used as an insecticide, which is mixed with noodles and meatballs to increase elasticity. Also forbidden was industrial formaldehyde and lye, used in making soap and drain cleaner and added to water used to soak some types of dried seafood to make the products appear fresher and bigger.
