Are you concerned about how takeaway food is being handled before reaching your doorstep? That's (hopefully) one less thing to worry about now as Shanghai pushed out its latest food safety regulations on Monday 20 March. It's said to be the most stringent one ever enacted.
China has had its fair share of food scandals, ranging from adulterated powdered milk to buns stuffed with paper fillings and, most recently, all of the commotion over Farine and its allegedly expired flour. But days of worry may soon be over as the new regulations seek to crack down on businesses operating without a license, standardise online food operations and implement harsher penalties for violators.
There's no doubt that the Chinese Government is determined to improve food safety in Shanghai, seeing that the regulations have had a thorough makeover. Other than just targeting restaurants and eateries, this new legislation will apply to online food services and delivery platforms, like Dianping, Sherpa's and Eleme, as well.
The new regulations are specially designed to ensure that your meals are handled safely, from restaurant kitchen to your doorstep. All deliverymen are required to be certified healthy and their delivery equipment must be sanitised regularly. Delivery distance, delivery time and food storage temperature must also be monitored to ensure that the food is fit for consumption by the time it reaches you. Even ingredients and additives used in cooking mustn't be near expiry date. To enforce the new rules, authorities will conduct random checks. Residents can also call 12331 to report potential violators.
In cooperation with Government agencies, food service platforms such as Dianping must supervise restaurants' and eateries' online activities, like advertising and promotions, as well as ensure that all business licenses are legitimate and, if not, remove them immediately. Even individuals who run small food businesses online are included in the regulations. As for those convicted of food safety offences? They will be banned from the industry indefinitely.
Regulations are harsh which, for consumers, is likely a very good thing. Hopefully, with Shanghai blazing the trail, this will improve China's lacklustre track record for food safety, and finally, you'll be able to eat in peace.