Food integrity in China: Insights from the national food spot check data in 2016

Food integrity is a major global public issue. China's food industry has demonstrated a sustained growth trend since the 1980s; however, the years between 1980 and 2012 witnessed a worrisome food integrity situation. Thankfully, in recent years, the situation is improving after the Chinese government's implementation of food safety regulations. In order to understand the current status of food integrity in China, this study analyzes the national food spot check data in 2016. The data covers almost all kinds of food in the market, and it reveals that overuse of food additives, microbial contamination and subpar food quality indicators are the top three factors limiting food integrity. Additionally, the paper discusses other challenges that affect food integrity in China, and we make suggestions for improving food integrity.