Qian Xiaoyi: Food Safety Needs to Increase Participation of the Whole Society

Recently, Qian Xiaoji, director of the China Economic Net Strategic Cooperation Department, said in an interview with the China Economic Net "Chanjing Online Interview" that in order to further improve China's food safety status, it must first mobilize the entire society to participate in it.

In the recent "Decision of the State Council on Strengthening Food Safety Work," it was clearly stated that "the role of the government, enterprises, industry organizations, social organizations, scientific and technical workers, and various media should be brought into full play to promote food safety awareness week. Various propaganda popular science activities, popularize food safety laws and regulations and food safety knowledge, raise public awareness of food safety and scientific literacy, and strive to create a good social atmosphere in which everyone cares about food safety and everyone maintains food safety.”

Qian Xiaoxuan pointed out that the “2012 Food Safety Confidence Index Research Report” jointly launched by Zero Group and China Economic Net showed that, in terms of responsibility for safeguarding food safety, the number of people who believe that food companies and government departments have the greatest responsibility is the largest, and the proportion is the largest. As high as 84.8% and 80.8%, citizens have low awareness of the role of food safety in industry associations, research institutes, media, consumer protection organizations, and consumers themselves, accounting for only about 10%. This also reflects the public's feeling that the whole society is not involved in food safety.

Unlike developed countries, there are many enterprises that produce and manage small and medium foods in China. Therefore, we must give full play to the role of social organizations such as industry associations and strengthen services such as food safety training for SMEs. Similarly, social research institutes have many functions to play in the joint participation in food safety.

Qian Xiaoyu particularly emphasized that the media have inalienable social responsibilities in popularizing food safety knowledge, accurately reporting food safety incidents, and interpreting food safety policies. The media is also an important part of society's participation in food safety. The “Food Safety Confidence Index Research Report” jointly issued by Zero Group and China Economic Net for two consecutive years is a good example of social concern and participation in food safety. The “Food Safety Forum” conducted by China Economic Net for four consecutive years is also a reflection of our responsibilities as media concerned with maintaining food safety.