With several food safety scandals in China lately, the topic of food safety has become a top priority for the Chinese public. And when it comes to food products from abroad, Chinese authorities are assuring the public that safety standards will be enforced even as China’s food imports continue to rise.
The National Bureau of Quality Inspection said China imported $48.24 billion worth of food products last year, representing an average annual growth rate of 17.6 percent China imported $48.24 billion worth of food products last year, representing an average annual growth rate of 17.6 percent and a staggering increase of 420 percent over a ten year period.
The bureau announced its annual white paper on the quality and safety of food import on World Health Day, which has the theme “food safety” this year.
In total, China imported 35 million tons of imported goods from 192 countries and territories last year that include the European Union, the USA, Australia, Brazil, Russia, and Argentina. The most popular imported goods include dairy products, oil, grain products, wine, and sugar.
However, despite a number of food imports getting blacklisted, the overwhelming majority of China’s food scandals do not concern foreign imported food products shipped into China from overseas, the dominion over which the National Bureau of Quality Inspection has authority over.
International fast food restaurant franchises like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut were rocked by a food scandal last year when it was revealed that local supplier Husi Foods had been using expired meat as part of its supply. Also in 2014, KFC was implicated along with a number of Chinese fast food restaurants when it was shown it had been using dirty water to make its ice. Just as it was prepared to announce the opening of several local stores in the PRD, a whistle-blower alleged that Wal-Mart had engaged in unsafe practices in food preparation.
However, there has been one major food scandal involving a foreign brand importing food products to China. US baby formula maker Abbott Laboratories recalled its products from China after New Zealand dairy maker Fonterra found trace evidence of bacteria that may lead to botulism.
The scandal also embroiled the countries of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia after Fonterra warned the international community of this potential health threat. China reacted by banning all milk product imports from Australia and New Zealand.
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