The troubling reality of China’s food safety scandals has reached alarming proportions, with pre-packaged bread and chain restaurants under intense scrutiny. This affordable and convenient staple, a favourite among consumers, has become a breeding ground for food safety disasters. While the market for pre-packaged bakery products is booming, the consequences of its rapid growth are impossible to ignore.
The numbers tell a story of skyrocketing demand and a corresponding rise in safety issues. Between 2019 and 2023, China’s pre-packaged bakery market doubled, growing from 124.8 billion Yuan (approximately $17 billion) to 243.8 billion Yuan (approximately $33 billion). Projections suggest this market will double yet again by 2028, reaching 773 billion Yuan (approximately $107 billion). However, such exponential growth has come at a cost. Platforms like Black Cat, where consumers can file complaints, have been inundated with reports. As of recent data, there were 3,410 grievances about moldy bread, 1,496 complaints about foreign objects, and 2,082 reports of contaminants such as hair and metal in packaged loaves.
Several food brands, both prominent and lesser-known, have been embroiled in recurring food safety scandals. A notable incident last year involved a batch of pre-packaged bread found to contain mold levels nearly six times the legal limit, prompting a public apology from the responsible factory’s leadership. This was not an isolated case, as complaints about mold, foreign objects such as hair and insects, and bacterial contamination have persisted over the years. From 2018 to 2023, certain brands faced repeated accusations and amassed hundreds of consumer complaints, revealing a troubling pattern of negligence. These issues, reported even within products’ shelf life, underscore systemic lapses in quality control and food safety standards across the industry, further eroding consumer trust in pre-packaged bakery products.
Since the beginning of 2024, local regulators have identified over 30 cases of baked goods failing bacterial standards. Leading brands such as Hower, Halia, and Maywe Yik were among them, with these tainted goods being sold through established chains like Yunghui and Giau, as well as smaller corner stores. Industry insiders attribute the contamination to a host of factors, including improper storage temperatures, flawed packaging, and even the materials used. Total sterility, they claim, remains an elusive goal, even in so-called state-of-the-art factories.
Automation and equipment have failed to keep pace with the industry’s explosive growth. According to a 2022 New Sphere report, China’s bakery market reached 2.84714 trillion yuan (approximately $399 billion), reflecting a 10.17% increase year-over-year. However, investment in commercial baking equipment lagged, growing by a mere 6.82% to just 43.86 billion yuan (approximately $6 billion). This disparity between market expansion and infrastructure modernization has opened the door for unscrupulous, small-scale operators to flood the market. A short video blogger recently exposed the appalling conditions of a bread factory, where chaotic dough rooms, rusty machinery, and workers in street clothes were the norm.
The crisis extends beyond pre-packaged goods to chain restaurants, which are also rife with violations. A prominent example is Young Mingu Stewed Chicken, a once-celebrated catering success story that has become notorious for food safety lapses. An undercover investigation by New Beijing News revealed that franchise locations were using sour, days-old ingredients. Leftovers scraped from customers’ plates were reportedly “reworked” and resold, and beef was dyed to appear fresh. To make matters worse, many outlets skipped mandatory health checks for their employees, hiring unlicensed workers who went straight to food preparation without any training.
In March last year, the Stewed Chicken scandal made headlines nationwide when reports surfaced of franchisees recycling leftovers. The chain, which boasts more than 500 franchise locations across China, became the subject of public outrage. Parent company Gangyang Mingu Catering Management, launched in 2011 with an initial capital of 10 million yuan (approximately $1.4 million), faced questions over its management practices. Although its website paints the picture of a thriving business, with stakes in active firms, its reputation has been severely tarnished.
These examples are symptomatic of a broader food safety crisis in China, where lax regulation and a lack of accountability have allowed unsafe practices to proliferate. Past incidents underscore the systemic nature of the problem. In 2008, the infamous melamine-tainted milk scandal affected over 300,000 children, causing widespread public anger and leading to a massive overhaul of dairy industry regulations. Similarly, in 2012, the discovery of “gutter oil” (recycled cooking oil) in restaurants led to arrests and convictions but failed to eradicate the practice entirely.
China’s rapid economic growth and increasing urbanization have created a burgeoning demand for convenient, ready-to-eat foods. However, the food production industry has struggled to balance this demand with safety. While major corporations have the resources to implement strict safety protocols, smaller players often cut corners, resulting in severe public health risks.
If the lessons of the past hold any weight, the solution requires a multi-faceted approach. Stronger enforcement of existing regulations, mandatory safety audits, and public transparency are crucial. Additionally, investing in modern infrastructure and automation could significantly mitigate these risks. Consumer awareness also plays a vital role—only by holding brands accountable can the cycle of negligence and violations be broken. China’s food safety crisis exposes the inefficiency of government enforcement. Despite policies, weak regulatory oversight and lax inspections let violations persist. High-profile scandals, such as moldy bread and reused leftovers, highlight systemic gaps. Until enforcement bodies improve accountability and resources, public trust and consumer safety remain precarious.