Chinese consumers concerned about food safety

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-27 15:02

TOO MANY SUPERVISORS

Zhang said the "root cause" of China's food safety problem is that the country "lacks a central administrative body to manage food safety." He said: "There are too many government bodies involved with food safety, including health departments, drug and food safety bodies and others.

"These bodies share licensing and inspection duties, and many of the duties overlap. Even worse, some of the rules for producers contradict one another, so some companies can take the advantage of loopholes in the regulatory system."

On March 5, Premier Wen Jiabao said in the 2009 government work report to the annual legislative session that China would step up the fight against unsafe food. China Health Care Association secretary general Xu Huafeng told Xinhua this statement reflected the understanding that the government "can't sit still."

CONSUMERS WANT ANSWERS

As for 'wheat bleaching', the Ministry of Health launched an investigation in December into whether benzoyl peroxide was harmful to humans and what quantity, if any, should be allowed in food. According to media reports earlier this month, the ministry indicated that experts were still investigating the issue.

It didn't say when the results would be available. Luo Yunbo, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST), a non-profit academic institution, said: "The investigation is a complex process that requires several tests and experiments, and the result is not likely to come out soon."

Luo said officials and experts should take a scientific attitude towards the experiment. They should neither demonize food additives nor conceal the truth about them.

"Whatever the result, the ministry should tell the public quickly. Industry development should not call for a sacrifice of the public interest," he added.

CURIOSITY IS POSITIVE

Hou Caiyun, a food expert with China Agricultural University in Beijing, said it was a good sign that consumers had become more cautious about food quality, which reflected social and economic development.

"However, people should look at food additives correctly. Excessive panic should be avoided," she said. Banned substances such as melamine and Sudan red were one thing, approved additives were another.

She said: "Minimal amounts of benzoyl peroxide aren't harmful to human health, at least according to the tests so far, because this substance can be digested and excreted. "This doesn't mean that enterprises can add the substance at random. They should strictly abide by the country's regulations," she added. Hou suggested that the government encourage consumers to change some of their eating habits and enjoy "green food".

She said: "People should shift their emphasis from appearance to food quality." Hou said China's flour industry and food processing technology have matured sufficiently to produce food that is "nice-looking" and tasty, without additives. "In the long run, food additives will be used less and less," she said.

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