How China’s Stricter Regulations on its Food Companies May Impact the U.S.

“There is massive opportunity for U.S. companies in China but it is also a very tough road to navigate. If you take one misstep—or even a perceived misstep—you will get whacked,” Dr. Acheson says. He cites as an example OSI Group LLC, a private U.S. meat processor whose Shanghai Husi Chinese operations were shut down in 2014 over allegations of having sold out-of-date meat to McDonald’s and KFC outlets throughout the country. In September 2015, Chinese prosecutors also brought criminal charges against 10 people connected with two OSI meat-processing facilities, including a plant manager. “There’s lots of opportunity in China but you need to tread cautiously,” Dr. Acheson advises.

China is also becoming something of a focal point for new international food safety initiatives. In September 2015, Mars Inc., opened its Global Food Safety Center, a $15-million research and training facility located in Huairou, just north of Beijing. The facility will employ 30 Mars scientists and provide fellowships for other academic and regulatory researchers to conduct precompetitive food safety research. The facility will house analytical chemistry and microbiology labs as well as interactive training laboratories. Mars says 95 percent of the research results will be placed in the public domain. “We firmly believe that in order to ensure generations of families have access to safe and nutritious foods, we must work together to evolve food safety management programs and create robust, sustainable supply chains,” said David Crean, corporate R&D vice president at Mars, in a statement.

Agres is a freelance writer based in Laurel, Md. Reach him at [email protected].