Weifang Consumer Association Releases Consumption Reminder on Betel Nuts and Betel Nut Products

Source: WeChat Official Account of Weifang Administration for Market Regulation

Areca nut is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization and is not a legally defined food. Long-term chewing causes severe damage to human health, especially irreversible harm to minors. 

To guide consumers to scientifically understand the hazards of areca nut, the Weifang Consumer Association issued consumer reminders regarding areca nuts and areca nut products in accordance with relevant laws

 and regulations including the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the Minor Protection Law of the People's Republic of China:

I. Fully Understand the Hazards of Areca Nut

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency under the World Health Organization, has clearly categorized areca nut as a Group 1 carcinogen. Areca nut is carcinogenic and highly addictive. 

Harmful substances such as arecoline contained in it easily create physical dependence. Long-term chewing repeatedly damages the oral mucosa, readily triggering lesions including oral submucous fibrosis, 

leukoplakia and recurrent ulcers, and drastically raising the risk of oral cancer. Meanwhile, toxic substances in areca nut harm the digestive and nervous systems, inducing gastrointestinal disorders, dizziness, 

insomnia, poor concentration and other issues. When consumed together with tobacco and alcohol, its carcinogenic risk surges, leading to far graver health consequences.

II. Standardize Sales Practices Strictly

The National Health Commission has not approved areca nut as a new food raw material, nor has it included areca nut in the Catalogue of Substances That Are Both Food and Traditional Chinese Medicine According to 

Customs. Areca nuts and areca nut products do not fall under the category of food. Pursuant to relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law, areca nuts and their products shall not be used as raw materials for food

 production and processing. No words, graphics, symbols or other marks on areca nut products shall label or describe them as "food" or "edible", and they shall not be operated as food. Business operators are prohibited

 from displaying, placing or selling areca nut products in food operation areas. Display, placement and sales zones for areca nut products must maintain a certain physical separation from food operation areas. 

Sales of areca nuts and related products to minors are strictly forbidden.

III. Health Reminders for Consumers

Consumers should recognize the carcinogenic risks of areca nut, voluntarily quit the chewing habit, and steer clear of oral lesions and cancer risks. Schools and parents should carry out continuous science popularization 

education to guide teenagers to reject areca nuts and curb illegal sales around campuses. If citizens discover illegal sales practices such as merchants improperly displaying areca nuts, selling areca nuts to minors, 

or falsely labeling areca nuts as food, they may file reports via the hotlines 12315 and 12345, so as to jointly build a safe and reassuring consumption environment.