Is China's food industry at all manageable?
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China's food industry is undergoing an overall crisis of trust as the media is constantly abuzz with new reports of toxic additives. Meanwhile, the public is left with few choices but to consume whatever is offered in the market.
This seems to be such a paradox. A country that can send astronauts into outer space cannot safeguard its dinner table. Food safety scandals shame the country's international image and shake public faith in government.
Such a paradox can be seen everywhere, like the attempt to discipline freewheeling Chinese pedestrians and drivers into respecting traffic lights.
When food makers, formerly small-timers, are expanding at breakneck speed, the old moral code pales in the face of soaring profits. A sound legal framework is far from being able to catch all offenders as too many players are involved in the food production chain.
Now China is forced to accept the strictest food safety standards. It is not an unreasonable requirement for the world's second economy.
China's food industry needs a revolutionary change. This path will be full of difficulties, but the country has to move forward.
So far, the media has played a crucial role in exposing food safety scandals, including the notorious tainted milk powder incident and the recent poisonous steamed bun story. The media should be encouraged to uncover more, no matter the consequences for the food industry.
Heavy penalties, including the death sentence, are necessary at this time to deter future offenders.
The food crises have, naturally, benefited foreign food producers when public see imported food as the last resort to get safe food.
Nevertheless, it is impossible to feed 1.3 billion people with imported food and water.
Local enterprises with a conscience should be assisted to acquire a market advantage. At a chaotic time, it is also time for building golden brands. The media, while taking the role of watchdog, should refrain from defaming the entire food industry.
Feeding its huge population is often regarded as the biggest achievement of China's reform, but now it seems we are far from reaching that.
This is natural. The public has a higher requirement of what they eat when they are no longer going hungry.
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