In recent years, the word "hyaluronic acid" has become a household name in the field of skin care and medical beauty. But did you know that this magical substance, whose scientific name is "sodium hyaluronate", has "walked" from the surface of our skin into our daily diet. So, when was it allowed to be added to food? And in what foods can it be used? This article will answer your questions.

I. Transformation of identity: from "external use" to "oral use"

For quite a long time, sodium hyaluronate was mainly approved for use in China:

• Drugs/medical devices: such as viscoelastics for ophthalmic surgery and intraarticular injections.

• Cosmetics: as a strong moisturizing ingredient.

• Health food: since 2008, it can be used as a raw material for health food.

However, adding it to ordinary foods (such as beverages, yogurt, and candy) is not allowed before 2021.

II. Milestone: March 1, 2021

The key time point for sodium hyaluronate to obtain "legal status" in the Chinese food field is:

• September 3, 2020: China's National Health Commission (NHC) issued an important announcement (Announcement on 15 "Three New Foods" including Cicadae Fruiting Bodies (Artificial Cultivation) , No. 9, 2020). This announcement officially included sodium hyaluronate in the list of "new food ingredients". The so-called "new food ingredients" refer to raw materials that have no traditional eating habits in China, but have been confirmed to be safe after safety assessment and can be used in food.

• March 1, 2021: The announcement officially came into effect. From this day on, sodium hyaluronate that meets the relevant standards can be legally added as a raw material to the general food category approved by the state.

Therefore, the starting date when sodium hyaluronate is officially listed as a new food ingredient in China and allowed to be used in ordinary foods is March 1, 2021.

III. What foods can be added? Are there any restrictions?

The announcement of the National Health Commission clearly defines the application of sodium hyaluronate in food:

1.Food categories allowed for use:

• Milk and dairy products (such as flavored fermented milk, cheese)

• Beverages (excluding solid beverages, such as packaged drinking water, carbonated beverages, fruit and vegetable juice beverages, tea beverages, etc.)

• Alcohol

• Cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products (including cocoa butter substitute chocolate and products)

• Candy (such as soft candy, pressed candy)

• Frozen drinks (such as ice cream, popsicles)

2.Explicitly excluded foods: It shall not be added to infant foods (including infant formula).

3.Daily consumption limit: ≤ 200 mg/day (calculated as pure hyaluronic acid). This means that when formulating their products, food manufacturers must ensure that the total amount of hyaluronic acid consumed by consumers does not exceed this upper limit.

IV. Significance and Impact: Opening a New Chapter of "Oral Beauty"

The release of this policy is of great significance:

• Regulatory breakthrough: It marks that the application scenarios of sodium hyaluronate have officially expanded from external use (skin care, injection) and specific health foods to a wider range of ordinary food.

• Market opportunities: It provides a new direction for food and beverage companies to develop "functional foods", especially in the fields of "oral beauty" and "joint health". Products such as drinking water, sparkling water, soft candy, yogurt, oral liquid, etc. with sodium hyaluronate added have quickly emerged on the market.

• Consumer choice: It provides more diverse product choices for consumers who pursue health and beauty.

V. Safety and standards: Quality is the prerequisite

The country has strict quality requirements for sodium hyaluronate as a food raw material. Its production process, physical and chemical indicators, microbiological indicators, etc. must comply with the provisions of the national food safety standard "GB 1903.28-2018 National Food Safety Standard Food Additives Sodium Hyaluronate". Only sodium hyaluronate that meets this standard can be used in food production.