Detection of food-borne pathogens with polymerase chain reaction and introduction of food safety supervision system in China

Abstract

Introduction Disease‐causing pathogens in food are transmitted far and wide through current interconnected global food‐chains and the morbidity of food‐borne diseases is increasing dramatically. It is quite important for every county to share information and experience with each other in order to optimize monitoring system of food safety. Objectives To help people from other countries understand more about Chinese food safety information by introducing the application of polymerase chain reaction technique in the detection of food‐borne pathogens and the food safety supervision system. Methods Official information and articles in Chinese Journal Full‐Text Database and other academic databases have been searched and analyzed. Results The types of food‐borne pathogens detected by polymerase chain reaction have increased dramatically and more applications of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in recent years have been observed. The implementation of a new food safety law has been strengthened and the supervision system of food safety optimized. Conclusion Techniques for improving the monitoring of food safety and the implementation of the new food safety law will improve the food safety situation in China significantly. This paper will be very helpful for people to understand more about the current Chinese food safety system.

Risk perception of food safety and behavioral intentions to read food safety labels

“…Food Hygiene Law was enacted to meet the needs at the time it was developed; however, the rapid development of the Chinese economy has increasingly forced China to adopt additional laws regarding food quality and supervision (Zhang, Xie, Zuo, Ding and Pei, 2010). Because of these concerns, a series of measures related to national standards, certification systems, and supervision based on food-safety laws has been enacted (Ortega et al, 2012;Ramzy, 2009;Wang, Mao and Gale, 2008 (Ramesh, 2010).…”

“…The government has also been working on regulating food safety in several areas. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) is the main institution in charge of primary agricultural products (Zhang et al, 2010), and the 2006 Agricultural Production Safety Law provides a national framework for building a system for regulating agricultural products (Calvin et al, 2006). Three…”

“…Second, advanced industrial raw materials (contaminants) are substituted into food production to reduce price (Qi, 2012). In 2008, a well-known dairy corporation used melamine, a chemical that can be used in manufacturing of packaging for food but not approved for direct addition to food (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), as a substitute for protein in milk powder, resulting in the widespread illness of 300,000 people and ultimately to the deaths of six infants (Ramesh, 2010;Zhang, 2010). Other food-safety issues related to use of added contaminants include Sudan Red Dyne eggs (Ramesh, 2010), industrial gelatin-tainted yogurt (Xinhua Economic News, 2012), etc.…”

“…For example, the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine of the PRC (AQSIQ) is responsible for manufacturing and processing, and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) is responsible for "general supervising, harmonizing, investigating and prosecuting serious food safety accidents"(Zhang et al, 2010, p. 16). To strengthen the regulatory system, the Ministry of Commerce plays the role of controlling food circulation, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection takes charge of pollutant inspection and control(Zhang et al, 2010).…”