China Blasted for Loosening Food Safety Law
By wchung | 02 Apr, 2026

A new government ruling allowing the sale of frozen food containing trace amounts of potentially deadly bacteria has drawn rare criticism from China’s state-run media as well as netizens.

The Health Ministry made the controversial ruling after Synear Food, one of China’s leading frozen food companies, had recalled frozen dumplings and other rice-based products because they contained traces of staphylococcus aureus bacterium or golden staph. The bacterium can cause infections leading to pneumonia and meningitis. The presence of any such bacteria required food to be recalled under existing rules. The new rule announced Thursday allows trace amounts in frozen rice or dough products.

The ruling provoked a critical editorial in Friday’s edition of the Communist Party organ, the People’s Daily.

“Authorities cannot attempt to fudge public concerns over food safety,” said the editorial. “In order to rebuild the credibility of food safety standards, they should… consider whether the making of the standards is open and transparent.” The editorial urged officials to “address public anxiety” caused by the revision.

China’s netizens accused the government of lowering food safety standards to pander to big business.

China had been hit by a series of tainted food scandals during the past three years as soaring food demand has produced a surge in food inflation. Thursday’s relaxing of standards on frozen foods may reflect concern over continuing food price pressures as China’s agricultural capacity falls further behind demand from its exploding middle class. Food inflation, along with rising housing costs, has been a leading cause of social unrest during the past two years.

The recent move appears to reverse last September’s call by China’s top court and the public security ministry for tougher penalties to punish food safety violations, including the death sentence.