PUTRAJAYA: The use of liquid nitrogen in food is not dangerous – provided it is fully evaporated and handled properly.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said liquid nitrogen is widely used for the flash-freezing of certain foods, including biscuits, to give them a fog-like texture, with no negative effects on the health of consumers.
"(However, liquid nitrogen) should be avoided if it is not fully evaporated.
"Liquid nitrogen should only be used at an appropriate temperature level to freeze products.
"Generally, after a food product is frozen, liquid nitrogen would evaporate instead of remaining in the finished product (this would be dangerous). Hence, there is no issue over the safety of food prepared using the liquid," Noor Hisham said in a statement.
He was responding to reports of Dragon Breath cookies containing un-evaporated liquid nitrogen which have left consumers with burns and blisters on their lips and hands.
"For consumers’ safety, food producers that use the liquid should ensure it is fully evaporated before selling products to consumers.
“This is to avoid cryogenic burns or frostbite," said Dr Noor Hisham.
It was reported that Mohd Aiman Mohd Ridwan, 15, suffered burns and blisters on his palms after holding a batch of Dragon Breath cookies.
Consumers Association of Kedah (CAKE) secretary Mohd Yusrizal Yusoff said the association has received five complaints so far on the product, and has forwarded the cases to the Kedah Health Department for further investigation.
“Initial investigations have shown that the liquid nitrogen used to prepare the cookies is not suitable for consumption, as it could cause side effects,” Yusrizal said.