福建省福州市近日爆出一起食品安全案件，引發社會廣泛關注。一家經營超過三十年的知名網紅煎包店，被查出在製作“牛滑”等食品時違法添加硼砂以提升口感與延長保存期限。事件曝光後，該店店主陳某被法院以生產、銷售有毒、有害食品罪判處有期徒刑七個月，並處罰金人民幣一萬六千元。

根據法院調查結果，陳某為了降低成本、提升牛滑的Q彈口感，透過網路平台淘寶購買非食用級硼砂，並將其以水溶形式浸泡牛肉，再加工成“牛滑”產品銷售。該煎包店販售的食品包括煎包、牛滑、牛肚、牛百葉、撈化等，長期以來以「老福州風味」和「彈牙口感」聞名，深受當地民眾喜愛，常出現排隊盛況。然而，自事件曝光後，該店已被迫關門停業。

硼砂（化學名：四硼酸鈉）原本屬於工業原料，常被應用於玻璃製造、陶瓷釉料、防腐劑等領域。由於其能使肉類製品變得更為Q彈、有彈性，一些不法商家便鋌而走險將其加入食品中，以求口感與保存期限的提升。然而，硼砂被明確列為禁止用於食品加工的有毒化學物質，長期或過量食用將對人體造成嚴重傷害。

醫學專家指出，硼砂進入人體後，在胃酸作用下會轉化為硼酸，這種物質能干擾人體的消化酶系統，導致消化不良、食欲下降、體重減輕等症狀；若攝入過量，還可能出現腹瀉、嘔吐、皮膚紅斑、休克甚至昏迷的急性中毒反應。成人的中毒劑量僅為1至3克，致死劑量約為15克，而嬰幼兒僅2至3克就可能致命。

這起案件不僅揭示部分老字號餐飲業者在商業利益驅使下違法添加危險物質的現象，也再次提醒公眾與監管部門，食品安全監督與科學消費意識的重要性。福州市監管機構事後表示，將持續加強對餐飲業的抽檢與追溯管理，防止類似事件再次發生，確保市民「舌尖上的安全」。

A recent food safety incident in Fuzhou, Fujian Province has drawn widespread attention. A well-known internet-famous fried bun shop, which had been operating for over thirty years, was discovered to have illegally added borax to its products, including its popular beef balls (“niu hua”), to enhance texture and reduce costs. The shop owner, Chen, was subsequently sentenced to seven months in prison and fined 16,000 RMB for producing and selling toxic or harmful food.

According to court findings, Chen purchased non-food-grade borax online via Taobao and soaked beef in a borax solution before processing it into beef balls. The shop’s menu included fried buns, beef balls, beef tripe, beef omasum, and rice noodles, and it had long been famous for its “authentic Fuzhou flavor” and chewy texture, often drawing long lines of customers. Following the exposure of the scandal, the store has been closed permanently.

Borax (sodium tetraborate) is an industrial chemical commonly used in glass manufacturing, ceramic glazes, and as a preservative. It can make meat and other foods unusually elastic and chewy, which is why some vendors have illegally added it to food. However, borax is prohibited in food production due to its toxicity. Long-term or excessive consumption can lead to serious health issues.

Medical experts warn that borax converts into boric acid in the stomach, interfering with digestive enzymes. This can cause indigestion, appetite loss, and weight loss, and excessive intake may result in diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes, shock, or even coma. For adults, toxic doses are 1–3 grams, with lethal doses around 15 grams, while infants can be fatally poisoned by as little as 2–3 grams.

This case highlights the risks of profit-driven violations in the food industry and underscores the importance of food safety oversight and public awareness. Fuzhou authorities have pledged to strengthen restaurant inspections, traceability, and preventive measures to ensure the safety of local residents.