Dilemma Defined
The challenge that team RADIANS chose to tackle is the one question that most of the foreign communities here in Shanghai face - a general mistrust of Chinese branded food products. And this is not surprising since every week the local English papers publish articles about the dire state of food safety and regulations in Chinese market place. These stories range from use of banned pesticides, dangerous additives to increase taste and the product shelf life. See Related Issues for more articles.
A prevalent question in the community is Where should I buy my fruits and vegetables. There are several questions that soon follow -
Should I buy at the local-Chinese “wet market” where the produce is cheaper and fresher but the place does not look clean.
These markets are prevalent all through Asia and are part of daily life for the the local Shanghai community that is the main customer at these markets.
OR
Should I buy from the international supermarkets that caters primarily to the foreign community. The produce is well packaged and labeled in English, the place is clean and although the produce is atleast 30% more expensive than the local markets may be its safer.
Our survey primarily focused on the expat community indicated that
* 42% of the people rate the "food safety" at local market at below 5 out of 10.
* About 70% of the people surveyed rate the "food safety" at the supermarket at more than 7 out of 10.
* About 60% of the people surveyed would only go to the local market 2 times or less out of 10 times they shop.
This survey clearly shows the bias of the foreign community towards the local wet markets.
Team RADIANS tested fruits and vegetables from a local wet market and international supermarket and compared the produce for nutritional content, contamination by coliform bacteria, exposure to heavy metals and 138 different pesticides.
The team collaborated with a reputed food safety lab in Shanghai to conduct these tests. The name of the lab has been withheld upon request.
A prevalent question in the community is Where should I buy my fruits and vegetables. There are several questions that soon follow -
Should I buy at the local-Chinese “wet market” where the produce is cheaper and fresher but the place does not look clean.
These markets are prevalent all through Asia and are part of daily life for the the local Shanghai community that is the main customer at these markets.
OR
Should I buy from the international supermarkets that caters primarily to the foreign community. The produce is well packaged and labeled in English, the place is clean and although the produce is atleast 30% more expensive than the local markets may be its safer.
Our survey primarily focused on the expat community indicated that
* 42% of the people rate the "food safety" at local market at below 5 out of 10.
* About 70% of the people surveyed rate the "food safety" at the supermarket at more than 7 out of 10.
* About 60% of the people surveyed would only go to the local market 2 times or less out of 10 times they shop.
This survey clearly shows the bias of the foreign community towards the local wet markets.
Team RADIANS tested fruits and vegetables from a local wet market and international supermarket and compared the produce for nutritional content, contamination by coliform bacteria, exposure to heavy metals and 138 different pesticides.
The team collaborated with a reputed food safety lab in Shanghai to conduct these tests. The name of the lab has been withheld upon request.