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Introduction
It is an undeniable fact that human beings cannot survive without food as it is one of the basic human needs for maintenance and sustenance of life. Food is, without a question, not only a necessity but a kind of pleasure in peoples’ lives regardless of their origin. In the contemporary times, food has significant symbolic power. It is not only necessary for survival but is also important “because it is no longer a widely (locally) accessible and equally produced resource” (Leda 95). Today, commodity-driven market considers food as an unconditional requirement. Moreover, it is also serving as an essential and substantial trace of the prevailing organization and classification of social relations (Leda 95).
Food Issues in China
It is not an untold secret that eating healthy food is extremely important for one’s physical as well as mental wellbeing. On the other hand, intake of unhealthy or excessive junk food can bring critical health-related problems. For the same reason, one of the most significant issues in the world is that of food safety. It is one of those serious issues that cannot be ignored or neglected. If put in simple words, intake of fresh and healthy food is exceedingly important if one wants to live a healthy life. Therefore, it is the need of the time that people start paying attention to food safety issue throughout the world.
Unquestionably, China is one of the most advanced and highly developed countries. Despite the fact that China is a highly technological country, it is facing a great food safety issue in the present times.
Why China is Facing a Food Security Issue?
It is not an untold secret that China is the most populated country in the world. It also covers a large land area that is almost as same as the United States of America. Due to its high population, the demand for food in China is extremely high. Considering this fact, the supply of food in China is also extremely rich. The Chinese society is under extensive pressure to attain their basic needs of food, shelter, and clothes. Everyone in China is a hard worker due to the fact that they need to make the ends meet in order to survive.
A number of countries in the world blame China for not giving its citizens the basic human rights. This blame is correct to a certain extent. It is extremely important to highlight that even though China is one of the most technologically advanced countries, there are a number of issues in the country that distinguish it from the rest of the advanced and prosperous countries in the West. It can be said that Chinese are too busy in making a living in the country that they do not have enough time to think about the rights they have as human beings.
It is not incorrect to say that the majority of Chinese population considers ‘living’ as the most important thing for most people. Therefore, they do not have time and extra energy to demand their basic rights as human beings.
Food Safety Scandals in China
Food safety issue is one of the most prominent issues in the Chinese society. It is considered a continuing problem and paradox for the Chinese people. It is a fact that food scandals and other food-related issues are not alarming or new for a majority of Chinese people. It is also not surprising for many that food safety incidents make repeated headlines all over the world. In 2006, the detection of Sudan IV in poultry eggs received great attention. The aim of using the mentioned prohibited and carcinogenic chemical additive was to give an attractive color to egg yolk.
Similarly, the use of milk and infant formula that had been adulterated by melamine caused the loss of six innocent lives. In addition, more or less fifty-five thousand babies were admitted to the hospital. In a similar manner, there have been continuous incidents of ditch oil usage as an inexpensive alternative to edible oil. Due to the frequency of such incidents, a huge proportion of Chinese population buys milk for the babies from international markets and does not eat in restaurants.
Why China has Failed to Solve Food Security Problem?
If the truth is told, China is not short of strong political determination and dedication for tackling the food safety problems. However, the repeated incidents have made China a controversial country that is not fair to its people. The Chinese government has taken a number of steps to solve this issue. It is unfortunate that despite many efforts, China has failed in addressing the food scandals. It has also failed in rising public confidence concerning food safety.
The reasons are simple. There has been no significant success to solve the mentioned issues because the laws and regulation are not implemented properly. It is the major responsibility of the food industry to take measures for the prevention of food safety problems. However, if the huge extent, great diversity, and intricacy of domestic food industry in the country are considered, it is not an easy thing to make sure that the high safety standards would be followed.
Another reason of food safety problems is the non-serious attitude of the Chinese society and political figures. The system of food inspection in the country is also extremely poor. It is a saddening reality that a lot of food inspectors are bribed by many businessman to not let the world be aware of their illegal products in the market. As a result, such products circulate in the market and consequently cause damage to peoples’ health. Even though the Chinese government tries to restrain this problem, these incidents happen repeatedly due to the lack of conscience of involved authorities.
Many Chinese companies make use of illegal stuff and means to control the cost of their products and earn profit. In “Food/Body/Person”, Curtin discusses a number of political factors that have a direct impact on the safety of food. He also demonstrates the ways people care about their health or body and how it affects the safety of food. When a person is not careful about his body, he is less careful for others. It is the same issue that is reflected in Chinese society.
It is mirrored in the fact that even though people know that there are problems in their food, they still choose those foods or compelled to choose those foods as they do not have any other choice. It cannot be denied that “our connections with food partially define who we are” (Curtin 11). When people select and eat food, it affects both their bodies and mind and also defines their personalities.
It is also important to highlight that a lot of small enterprises in the Chinese society do not have the means for the implementation of the wide range of tests required for ensuring food safety. This is because the costs of these tests are very high. In addition, there is persistent ambiguity in the current systems of regulation and surveillance. The best example in this regard is that of the latest Shanghai Husi Food meat scandal. The food inspection teams had inspected the mentioned company 7 times in the past thirty-six months. However, no abnormal detection or report was produced due to the loopholes in the system. It is surprising that a country as advanced as China failed to develop an effective system to detect food insecurities.
It is the mutual responsibility of the producers, distributors, and consumers to prevent food problems. It is important to highlight that food journalism has principally contributed in making people aware about the food issues. It has “succeeded in making clear and telling connections between the methods of industrial food production, agricultural policy, food-borne illness, childhood obesity, the decline of the family meal as an institution, and, notably, the decline of family income beginning in the 1970s” (Pollan).
Food blogs are also an extremely important source that let people know the realities of reputation of so-called-high-class restaurants that make use of illegal and toxic stuff in preparing food for consumers (Denveater 46). Food blogs also help people to realize the importance of ingredients in a meal rather than their taste (Salvio 32).
Chinese Attitude towards Food Intake
As I mentioned that nutritious food is extremely necessary for human health, the unhealthy food intake can have severe consequences on human health. It is an awkward thing to highlight that even though both Americans as well as Chine are educated people, they do not show any concern to know the origin of the food they eat. All they are concerned about is eating. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of an adult individual to eat healthy food and make his dependents also eat health food.
It is important to understand that human beings have a selfish nature. If people do not care about their own health, they are likely to not care what other people are eating. I think that Chinese have also become selfish. This is because they are not realizing and comprehending the consequences of food issues in their society. In today’s world, people are more conscious about the taste of the food, and not healthiness. Food is meant to provide comfort but not by tasting better (Clark 83). It must provide comfort by being making people physically and mentally healthy. It is desirable of parents and elders to make their children develop a sense for “appreciation for fresh food and trusting one’s senses” (Clark 86). Sometimes, people eat free food just because it tastes better. However, free things and foods are not always healthy for oneself (Kramer 4).
Recommendations to Solve the Food Issue Problem
Conclusion
There are many renowned Chinese restaurants all over the world that are liked by people due to their food quality and taste (Meehan 5). However, such scandals have put a question mark on their cooking methods and usage of ingredients. Therefore, there is a need to take a collective measure to solve the food security issue not only in China, but on an international level.
In short, people in China have the responsibility of asking their government to make them aware regarding the measures taken to solve the discussed problem. Even though it is true that Chinese are hard working people, but it is not the right way to spend life when a wrong thing is being done in front of one’s eyes and he does not care about its resolution. Food is life and it must be saved.
Works Cited
Clark, Charles Allen. "Mama Dip: A Lifetime of Cooking." Profiles from the Kitchen: What Great Cooks Have Taught Us about Ourselves and Our Food. Lexington: U of Kentucky, 2006. Print.
Cooks, Leda. "You Are What You (Don't) Eat? Food, Identity, and Resistance." Text and Performance Quarterly (2009): 94-110. Print.
Curtin, D.W. "Food/Body/Person." Cooking, Eating, Thinking: Transformative Philosophies of Food. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1992. Print.
Denveater. "The Virtual Roundtable: Food Blogging as Citizen Journalism." World Literature Today 83.01 (2009): 42-46. Print.
Kramerq, J,. "THE FOOD AT OUR FEET: Why Is Foraging All the Rage?" New Yorker 21 Nov. 2011. Print.
Meehan, Peter. "American Cuisine: Whatever That Is." Lucky Peach. San Francisco, CA: McSweeneys, 2011. Print.
Pollan, M. (2010, May 20). The Food Movement Rising. The New York Review of Books.
Salvio, P. M. "Dishing It Out: Food Blogs and Post-Feminist Domesticity." Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture 12.03 (2012): 31-39. Print.
