Food supply and food safety issues in China

Abstract

Food supply and food safety are major global public health issues, and are particularly important in heavily populated countries such as China. Rapid industrialisation and modernisation in China are having profound effects on food supply and food safety. In this Review, we identified important factors limiting agricultural production in China, including conversion of agricultural land to other uses, freshwater deficits, and soil quality issues. Additionally, increased demand for some agricultural products is examined, particularly those needed to satisfy the increased consumption of animal products in the Chinese diet, which threatens to drive production towards crops used as animal feed. Major sources of food poisoning in China include pathogenic microorganisms, toxic animals and plants entering the food supply, and chemical contamination. Meanwhile, two growing food safety issues are illegal additives and contamination of the food supply by toxic industrial waste. China's connections to global agricultural markets are also having important effects on food supply and food safety within the country. Although the Chinese Government has shown determination to reform laws, establish monitoring systems, and strengthen food safety regulation, weak links in implementation remain.

Figure 1

Temporal trends in land use, water resources, and cereal production, worldwide and in China. Total arable land (A), renewable water resources (B), and cereal production (C) were divided by the total populations of the world and China, respectively. Data are from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization.

Figure 2

Temporal trends in supply of animal and fish products, worldwide and in China. Masses of yearly animal food product production (A) or fish harvest (B) were divided by the total populations of the world and China, respectively. Data are from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization.

Figure 3

Possible sources of contamination in the food supply chain