In a country plagued by food safety scandals, mitigating risk while shopping for groceries is no easy task. While it has been noted that those with a cache of power sometimes enjoy greater access to safe food, for everyone else it can be pricey to purchase high-quality foodstuffs—and even then there is risk of false labeling, which led to the 2011 closing of Wal-Mart branches in Chongqing. In a video report, The Wall Street Journal talks to China Market Research’s Shaun Rein about how to shop safe and penny-wise in China:
The accompanying print report relays advice from health and food industry professionals on reducing risk and saving money:
After a spate of food scandals, it is no surprise that consumers in China are hugely concerned about food safety. David Laris, a chef and creator of several high-end restaurants in Shanghai, reckons that if a family of four in Shanghai eats just organic food, the grocery bill would be about $600 a week. “At home, we spend too much money buying food; there is no shortcut financially,” he said.
But industry insiders, doctors and consumers say there are ways to reduce the risks of eating food produced in China—without going over budget. […] [Source]
Also see prior CDT coverage of food safety in China.
