The first-level carcinogen betel nut has been sold well for a long time in many places. The market supervision department requires it to be removed from the shelves
Supervision of betel nut sales in accordance with tobacco supervision methods should prompt harm
Motivation for investigation
Recently, the topic of "36-year-old singer died of oral cancer after chewing betel nut for 6 years" was once on the hot search. In the video released before his death, the singer showed netizens that he suffered from oral cancer and ulcerated left side due to long-term chewing of betel nut. Face, it said painfully that his greatest happiness is that the wound does not hurt at night, so that he can sleep well.
He also advised netizens who like chewing betel nut not to take chances and stay away from betel nut.
The "2021-2026 Betel Nut Industry In-depth Analysis and Investment Value Research and Consulting Report" shows that my country's betel nut consumers have exceeded 100 million.
For some people, chewing betel nut is an important medium in their daily life and even communication.
However, the voice of whether to ban the sale of betel nut has been heard in recent years. Since mid-September this year, Yiwu in Zhejiang, Yingshan in Sichuan, Nanchang in Jiangxi and other places have successively issued documents requiring food operators not to sell betel nut products as food.
Why do so many people love to chew betel nut, and how harmful is chewing betel nut?
Should betel nut sales be banned or regulated?
With these questions, the reporter conducted an investigation and interview.
□ Zhang Shoukun, a trainee reporter of this newspaper
□ Our reporter Chen Lei
This summer, when college student Liu Zhuang (pseudonym) returned to his hometown in Henan, he found that many villagers who had no concept of betel nut a few years ago chewed betel nut, and the canteen in the village also placed betel nut in a prominent position.
"Why do we suddenly have betel nut here?" Faced with Liu Zhuang's question, the canteen owner told him that there was no betel nut for sale in the village, but as more and more people asked, it was mainly young people who went out to work and returned home at first. As a result, the commissary began to purchase goods, and as a result, both sales and profits were good. Now more and more people are buying betel nut, and many of them are minors.
Liu Zhuang understands the dangers of chewing betel nut, and he is very worried about the phenomenon of many people around and even minors chewing betel nut.
Long-term consumption is harmful to health
Doctors advise to stay away from betel nut
Why do so many people like to chew betel nut?
Xiang Xu, Deputy Chief Physician of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, said that studies have shown that arecoline, the main component of betel nut, can stimulate nerves, make people feel pleasant, and can improve concentration and reaction, and relieve fatigue.
Song Hui, from Suzhou, Anhui Province, has been chewing betel nut for five years. He told a reporter from the Rule of Law Daily that most people who like betel nut have heard the phrase, “Betel nut is paired with wine, the more you drink, the more you drink; I went to an Internet cafe for a night, and I chewed a bag of betel nut all night before I knew it, and now I often work night shifts, and I can’t do without betel nut.”
Among the people he knows, truck drivers, night shift workers, and some people who often stay up late all have a great demand for betel nut.
According to Liu Feng, who lives in Yiyang City, Hunan Province, betel nut has become a cultural symbol for them.
"Like loose cigarettes and toasting, betel nut has become a kind of etiquette and social method. No matter men, women, children and children, they will ask 'cha betel nut or not' (eat betel nut or not). Repeated invitations, and slowly eat up."
Under the strong demand, the sales of betel nut have also risen.
"China Market Supervision News" reported that from 2011 to 2018, the output value of the betel nut industry rose from 55.8 billion yuan to 78.1 billion yuan, and continued to rise.
On September 20, when the reporter visited Hedong District, Tianjin, he saw that many supermarkets were selling betel nuts, and the price of a pack was mostly 20 to 30 yuan.
There are advertisements of a certain betel nut brand on the door of many supermarkets, and betel nut is generally placed at the counter or in a conspicuous position that can be seen as soon as you enter the door.
"On the one hand, it is because the betel nut itself sells well and the profit is high. In addition, there are merchants who give the display fee. In a larger supermarket, the display fee of different brands of betel nut may add up to several thousand yuan a month." A supermarket The boss told reporters.
The reporter noticed that the outer packaging of many brands of betel nut is marked with prize sales, and there are coupons in the packaging bag. The prizes include: another pack, 5 yuan to 30 yuan for a pack of wolfberry betel nut, gold jewelry, etc.
The above-mentioned supermarket owner said that the winning rate of betel nut is relatively high. Some time ago, there were people in the store who won gold jewelry. "The lottery has also aroused some people's desire to buy."
However, modern medicine has proved that chewing betel nut is addictive and harmful.
"The arecoline in betel nut is easy to become addictive, and long-term chewing of betel nut will bring about a series of problems such as excessive loss of teeth, darkening, gingival recession, masseter hypertrophy. In addition, there will also be a series of oral mucosal diseases. There is a high probability of oral submucosal fibrosis, resulting in whitening and hardening of the entire oral mucosa, restricted mouth opening, difficulty in eating and swallowing, etc., and these oral mucosal diseases have the possibility of cancer." Xiang Xu said.
As early as 2003, the WHO (World Health Organization) listed betel nut as a first-class carcinogen; in 2017, when the former State Food and Drug Administration announced the list of carcinogens, betel nut was also listed as a first-class carcinogen.
According to public data from relevant hospitals, in just ten years (2005-2016), betel nut caused 8,222 oral cancer cases in Changsha, Hunan.
According to the 2021 Hunan Cancer Registration Annual Report, the incidence of oral cancer among men in Hunan has risen to 5th, and the mortality rate has risen to 8th.
Taiwan's health and welfare department has also released relevant data. There are about 7,000 people suffering from oral cancer every year, and 3,000 people die every year, and 95% of them have the habit of chewing betel nut.
Eight years ago, an article titled "The Face-Cuttering Man in the Kingdom of Betel Nut" was widely circulated on the Internet. Liu Sangguo from Hunan had his left face cut off due to chewing betel nut all year round. The gums, part of the tongue and lymphatic system were also removed, and later due to the compression of the optic nerve, the left eye was completely blinded.
In 2019, the National Health and Medical Commission clearly stated in the interpretation of the "Healthy Oral Action Plan (2019-2025)" that it is necessary to promote the masses to develop healthy behaviors and lifestyles by intervening in high-risk behaviors such as betel nut chewing for a long time. .
The action plan proposes that in areas with the habit of chewing betel nut, focus on the harm of long-term chewing of betel nut to oral health, carry out targeted publicity and education and oral health inspection, and promote the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as periodontal and oral mucosal lesions.
"For betel nut, although there is no need to talk about cancer discoloration, it is generally not a problem to chew one or two pieces occasionally, but because it is easily addictive and harmful, it is recommended to stay away from betel nut from a medical point of view." Xiang Xu said.
Betel nut is not included in the food catalog
Stop betel nut advertising
Although there are many brands of betel nut sold in the market, if you want to ask what "identity" is the betel nut sold, I am afraid there is no clear answer.
During the interview, many merchants and consumers felt that this was not a problem. "After selling and eating for so long, there is no doubt that chewing betel nut is a kind of food?!"
But in fact, in 2020, the latest revision of the "Food Production License Classification Catalog" by the State Administration for Market Regulation did not include "edible betel nut".
Experts interviewed believe that this means that betel nuts are not considered "food" in the legal sense.
The relevant person in charge of the Hainan Province Betel Nut Association told reporters that at present, what kind of "identity" are betel nut is sold in, and it is necessary to consult the relevant regulatory authorities.
At the National Two Sessions in 2021, a representative of the National People's Congress put forward a "proposal to regulate the development of the Hunan betel nut processing industry", hoping to set food safety standards for betel nut.
In response, the National Health and Health Commission replied that according to the Food Safety Law, food should be non-toxic and harmless, meet the required nutritional requirements, and not cause any acute, subacute or chronic harm to human health. As a new food raw material, betel nut has not been included in the food and drug quality catalog, and betel nut (fruit) is not suitable for formulating food safety standards.”
It is understood that betel nut is currently only listed in the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" as a medicinal material.
It cannot be managed as food, which means that food production licenses cannot be issued. The reporter searched with the keyword "betel nut" on the information inquiry platform of the food license-certified enterprises of the State Administration for Market Regulation and found that the production qualifications of some betel nut enterprises in Hunan and Hainan are necessary. expired or has expired.
Public information shows that Hunan once extended the expired food production license of betel nut enterprises. After the move caused controversy, the official deleted the relevant information.
The province has also included the "Administrative Measures for Areca Products in Hunan Province" into the 2021 legislative plan research and demonstration project, with a view to giving betel nut a "local specialty product" status.
Hainan has taken a similar approach to address the "identity" issue of betel nut.
Once, advertisements about betel nut can be seen everywhere, from stations, canteens, billboards to short video platforms, variety shows, and film and television dramas.
On March 7, 2019, the Hunan Province Areca Food Industry Association issued a notice requiring all betel nut companies to stop all domestic advertising and publicity from now on, and must complete this work before March 15.
On September 17, 2021, the State Administration of Radio and Television issued a notice deciding to stop using radio, television and online audio-visual programs to promote and sell betel nut and its products from now on.
The reporter's investigation found that after the announcement, the extensive use of variety shows and online dramas to promote betel nut has disappeared, but there are still users selling betel nut and advertising on the short video platform, and the pop-up windows of some websites also have traces of betel nut advertisements.
Cai Xuan, a lawyer from Beijing Yinghe Law Firm, believes that the relevant industry associations do not have the power and status of substantive supervision. If they do not have the power to impose administrative penalties, and the legal consequences they need to bear cannot be clearly defined, the ban on stopping advertising will be difficult to implement.
Liu Junhai, a professor at the Law School of Renmin University of China, believes that there are loopholes in the supervision of the production and sale of betel nut. For example, betel nut is not sold as a food "identity", and only a small number of areas strictly follow the relevant regulations for supervision.
Due to the existence of blind spots in supervision, the illegal income is much higher than the illegal cost, which stimulates the illegal production and sales behavior of merchants.
Ren Chao, a professor at the School of Economic Law at East China University of Political Science and Law, told reporters that the Advertising Law stipulates that advertisements must not contain false or misleading content, and must not deceive or mislead consumers. Manufacturers cannot provide data to prove the real existence of their claimed effects, and should be subject to the adjustment of the Advertising Law and the regulation of the competent authorities. Advertisers and advertisers know or should know that the content is false, but still design, produce, represent, publish, and publish. , shall be punished by the market supervision and management department.
"As far as advertising venues are concerned, we cannot stop at radio, television and online audio-visual programs. We should also strengthen management of the phenomenon of random posting of betel nut advertisements in offline public places. Managers of public places or telecommunications business operators, Internet information services If the provider knows or should know that it uses its venue or information transmission, publishing platform to send or publish illegal advertisements, it should be stopped, and those who do not stop will be punished by the market supervision department." Ren Chao said.
Improve the rule of law making
Strictly supervise the betel nut industry
On September 15, some media reported that Yiwu, Zhejiang and other places required stores to remove betel nut products from their shelves.
The Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Bureau later stated that the move was aimed at implementing the management of betel nut products.
On September 19, the Market Supervision Bureau of Yingshan County, Sichuan Province issued a document through the WeChat public account that all operators are not allowed to sell betel nut and betel nut products with food packaging and labels; for food business premises that sell betel nut and betel nut products, immediately contact Food The operating unit will be removed from the shelves, and if there is any illegal act, it will be investigated and punished according to law.
As of press time, market supervision departments in many places have required food operators to remove betel nut and betel nut products from the shelves.
However, the reporter noticed that in areas that have issued documents restricting the sale of betel nut, betel nut can still be retrieved through the takeaway platform, and most of the sellers are non-staple food stores and supermarkets.
Experts interviewed believe that there are still many blind spots in the supervision of the betel nut industry, and the supporting laws and regulations are not perfect.
In comparison, tobacco and alcohol products that are both first-class carcinogens are regulated by laws and regulations such as the Tobacco Monopoly Law and Alcohol Circulation Management Measures. Electronic cigarettes were also officially included in the supervision of the tobacco system in November last year, and the mandatory national standards will be It will be implemented from October 1 this year.
In response to the current measures to implement the sales of betel nut products, the reporter recently called the Hunan Province Betel Nut Food Industry Association several times, but no one answered.
The relevant person in charge of the Hainan Betel Nut Association told reporters that all inquiries are subject to the "Announcement of Hainan Betel Association on the Development of Hainan Betel Nut Industry in Recent Years" published on the Association's WeChat public account on September 21.
The announcement stated that in recent years, the Hainan Province Betel Nut Association has actively promoted relevant enterprises and scientific research institutions to increase efforts to develop healthy betel nut chewing gum that has no rough fibers, does not harm the oral mucosa, and has a low content of arecoline. results.
The association recommends that relevant government departments establish and improve relevant laws, regulations and industry standards, and strengthen the supervision of the whole industry chain of the betel nut industry.
Song Hui believes that publicity should be strengthened to make people deeply aware of the dangers of chewing betel nut.
"I have quit betel nut now, but my cheeks are much bigger. The process is very painful, like smoking, there is a withdrawal reaction, but when I think about the experiences and pictures of those patients with oral cancer, I have to persevere no matter what."
In fact, some foreign countries have banned the transportation and sale of betel nut in all directions. Although some countries do not prohibit it, they require that warning labels must be clearly posted on the packaging when selling betel nut.
The reporter contacted a betel nut supplier in Hunan. The other party said that it is still normal to receive and deliver goods from the factory. They are optimistic about how the industry will develop in the future: "This industry involves so many people. And merchants, as well as farmers who grow betel nut, it is impossible to stop selling it all at once.”
In Liu Junhai's view, with the continuous tightening of control policies, the betel nut industry should be managed from the source. For areas with many producers and manufacturers, it is possible to gradually explore and guide the public to engage in other industries and plant other products, and relevant departments are in an orderly manner. Guidance and corresponding compensation for exit from the market.
Cai Xuan believes that the most urgent task is to introduce unified management regulations.
There are no unified regulations on whether betel nut can be sold, and what type of commodities are betel nut, and the standards are also different.
"Relevant departments should issue relevant regulations as soon as possible to ensure that the industry has laws to abide by and regulate sales behavior."
A number of interviewed experts suggested that considering the degree of harm of betel nut products to human health, it can be regulated in accordance with the tobacco supervision method, and franchising can be implemented. Minors sell betel nut, betel nut is not allowed to be sold around the school, and the package is printed with a reminder that "long-term excessive chewing is harmful to oral health".
In Ren Chao's view, the planting, processing and sales behind the betel nut industry have formed an industrial chain, and the interests of multiple parties should be fully considered, and it is not appropriate to immediately "one size fits all" to ban its sales.
Starting from the status quo of the betel nut industry, we can learn from the experience in the field of tobacco regulation, and regulate and restrict it while allowing its development.
On the one hand, it recognizes the objectivity and necessity of its existence, and allows its development under conditions; on the other hand, it is necessary to recognize the harm of eating betel nut, and regulate and supervise the disorderly expansion of the betel nut industry from the aspects of production and operation.
The interviewed experts pointed out that because of its harmfulness, stricter supervision of betel nut is the general trend, but the betel nut industry is related to the livelihood of many people and the survival of a large number of enterprises. How to properly handle various problems that may be encountered after strict regulations should also be fully consider.