China Moves to Set National Standards for Booming Pre-Made Meal Industry
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China’s top food safety authority is moving to regulate the country’s massive and fast-growing pre-made meal industry, responding to widespread consumer concern over transparency and a lack of uniform standards.
The State Council’s Food Safety Office announced on Sept. 21 that it has organized several government ministries to accelerate the creation of a national standard for pre-made dishes. The plan includes a push for mandatory disclosure when restaurants use such products, a move aimed at protecting consumers’ “right to know and right to choose.”
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- China is creating national standards for its $67 billion pre-made meal industry, which is projected to reach 749 billion yuan by 2026, to address transparency and consumer concerns.
- Multiple ministries are involved in drafting regulations, but the industry currently operates under non-mandatory guidelines and fragmented oversight.
- The use of pre-made dishes in schools is particularly controversial, with authorities urging caution due to food safety and nutrition concerns.
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Who’s Who
- McDonald's
- McDonald's is mentioned as a Western fast-food chain that introduced the concept of pre-made meals to China in the 1990s. They utilized central kitchens to supply semi-finished ingredients, predating the domestic industry's boom after 2010.
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What Happened When
- 2023：
- ‘Pre-made dishes’ were mentioned for the first time in the ‘No. 1 Central Document’ on rural policy, calling for standardizing the industry.
- September 2023：
- An official from the Ministry of Education stated it was not appropriate to promote the use of pre-made meals on campuses.
- 2024：
- China’s pre-made meal market was worth 485 billion yuan ($67 billion), according to iiMedia Research.
- March 2024：
- Six government departments, including the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), jointly issued a notice providing the first official definition of pre-made dishes.
- As of 2025：
- A formal national standard from the National Health Commission has not yet been released.
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