In addition to regular spot checks, online food-ordering shops will also be subjected to online supervision in order to standardize operations, as their information will start to be publicized in 2019, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
At present, there are 729 food manufacturers and nearly 330,000 licensed food-related businesses in the city.
In particular, Shenzhen has the largest number of online food-ordering shops in Guangdong Province, with more than 86,000, according to a food safety report submitted to the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress.
The report pointed out that Shenzhen, with a population of over 20 million residents, consumes a large amount of food. On average, 9,400 tons of vegetables and fruits, 6,190 tons of meat, eggs and aquatic products and 5,480 tons of grains are consumed every day.
However, the risk of importing food remains high. In Shenzhen, 95 percent of agricultural products, 85 percent of food and 100 percent of grains are transported from other cities. Meanwhile, the proportion of imported food in residents’ diets is also increasing year by year.
Additionally, food additives, agricultural and veterinary drugs, antibiotics abuse, the addition of non-edible substances and other food safety problems are also prominent, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the city’s unqualified items during food supervision and sampling in 2017.
Less than 25 percent of school canteens in the city have reached the A level, which is behind cities like Shanghai. Also, the infrastructure and facilities of some wet markets are old-fashioned and the relevant upgrading projects are progressing slowly.
The report also revealed that Shenzhen will establish 300 kinds of food standards and introduce supporting certification rules in 2019. Moreover, the city is striving to build at least two to three prepared food centers in each district by 2020.