Plans to audit 5,000 standards meets with Chinese media approval

The ruling Communist party has been quick to promote the move through its media mouthpieces as food safety remains a burning issue in the country.

It was a “timely step​” in regulation at a time when food safety “has become a huge concern​”, according to a China Daily​ editorial, which highlighted the country’s “assorted, different and even conflicting food safety standards among different departments, regions and fields​”.

Currently, some 15 government departments are in charge of a wide range of food products, from health foods to grains. A unified national system for food safety standards was especially needed in the wake of new chemical contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms that present fresh challenges to food authorities, the paper said.

Compounding these, rising living standards have prompted consumers to pay more attention to food safety, heaping growing pressure on the authorities to intensify their supervision.

“The country's law on food safety, adopted 28 years ago, no longer meets the needs of the times after the tremendous changes that have occurred since then​. 

“The law's amendment remains a pressing task, as is revision of the country's food safety standards enforcement system​. 

“Lax and weak supervision is believed to be one of the reasons for the problems exposed in the country's food production​,” the editorial added.

To ensure the effective supervision and enforcement of food safety standards, China should first have a set of unified food safety standards, it concluded.

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Cargill opens development centre in Shanghai to cover most food streams​

Cargill has pooled its resources across a range of divisions to open its first innovation centre in Asia, which employs some 50 researchers, nutritionists and chefs.​

Cargill One, which opened last week in Shanghai, brings expertise across broad areas of food, including animal protein, edible oils, sweeteners, starches, cocoa and texturising solutions. From it, Cargill intends to bring its food development services closer to its customers across many of its product lines.

It will initially focus on taste and flavours, food ingredients and menus that appeal to changing consumer demand. 

“Product innovation is one of the cornerstones of our evolution from a grain warehouse to a global leader in food and agriculture over the past 151 years​,” said Todd Hall, senior vice-president of Cargill. 

“We have multiple innovation centres around the world specialising in distinct food groups, such as animal protein, sweeteners, food texturisers, feed and such​.” 

Chinese diets and the way consumers view food are changing fast in the wake of rapid socioeconomic development. The centre will also be a platform for public education on food safety and nutrition.

“Cargill One … demonstrates the value that we place on China and our commitment to our customers here. I believe that in time, we will extend our service at Cargill One to other markets across Asia-Pacific​,” Hall added.

As the “future of food​”, the innovation centre will also help Cargill work closer with its customers in new ingredient development, said Chris Mallett, vice-president of R&D.

“It a window for us to better understand what consumers want today and tomorrow, and help our customers be ready with the food their consumers want in the future​,” Mallett said. 

SIAF aquaculture offshoot given green light to expand with $36m loan​

Chinese protein investment major Sino Agro Food Industries’ fisheries subsidiary has been approved for a CNY250m (US$36.3m) loan to expand its operations.​

The facility will allow Jiangmen City A Power Fishery Development to develop fish farm projects in Guangdong within an accelerated time frame, said SIAF’s chairman and chief executive.

“In addition to providing capital to build out the aquaculture segment of our business, we are confident this facility will enhance the company’s creditworthiness in its ability to secure additional funds from the market​,” said Solomon Lee. 

Jiangmen and its parent now plan to develop the aquaculture business into a “world-leading provider of seafood prior to spinning out the business and listing it on a major stock exchange​,” said Lee. 

“This strategy is expected to unleash significant shareholder value and we are excited by the opportunities ahead of us as we move into this high-growth phase of our development​," Lee added. 

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Guangzhou, SIAF produces, distributes, markets, and sells sustainable seafood and beef to China’s fast-growing middle-class. Its activities also include production of organic fertiliser and produce. 

It is a global leader in developing land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, and with its partners is the world's largest producer of sustainable prawns using this system.

Local acquisition will help vertically integrate Ingredion’s China business​

Ingredion has completed the acquisition of Shandong Huanong Specialty Corn Development in China from Pingyuan County Juyuan State-Owned Asset Management for an undisclosed sum.​

The acquisition gives Ingredion a second Chinese manufacturing facility. It will produce starch raw material for the company’s plant in Shanghai, which makes value-added ingredients.   

The plant will help the ingredients major to vertically integrate its manufacturing base for speciality ingredients while reducing costs. It will also give Ingredion more control of its supply chain, with added food safety and sustainability benefits, Ingredion said in a statement. 

“The facility is strategically located in an ideal growing area for the specialty grains used to make our ingredients.  And, it provides a base for expansion to accommodate future growth​,” said Jorgen Kokke, Ingredion’s regional president.