Shanghai barrs additives in restaurants' home-made beverages

All additives will soon be banned from beverages and fresh juices made in Shanghai restaurants under updated food safety standards.

"The regulations concerning beverages, hot pot soups and restaurant groups' central kitchens will be publicized after technical details are perfected," Shen Weitao, director of the food safety supervision department of Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, told China Daily on Tuesday.

No additives will be allowed in beverages or fresh vegetable juices from catering businesses, Shen said, and water may be added only when it is necessary.

A detection method will be adopted to ensure there are no illegal additives in hot pot soups, a food inspectors have always given special attention.

"It has been a headache for a long time to determine whether banned ingredients were added to the soups, but we've found an accurate and practical approach to detect the amount of residue from illegal additives," Shen said.

The authority said the standards will further safeguard food safety, and it will require restaurants to monitor their compliance with the regulations.