Expert: You can't stop eating for fear of getting chocked
03:26

China is the largest food importer in the world. A report from the third Shanghai International Import Expo shows China imported food from 189 countries and regions in 2019. The total trade volume hit over 90 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of over 23 percent compared with 2018. In the first three quarters of 2020, China has bought food worth 124 billion U.S. dollars from overseas, an increase of 13 percent. But China has found the coronavirus on frozen food packaging imported from abroad, including the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and Indonesia. Despite the country ramping up efforts to control imported food risks, the market is still expecting double-digit growth in food imports next year. Professor Liu Baocheng from the University of International Business and Economics said the questions lie for the Chinese consumers on whether they are willing to give up the imported food if there are widespread restrictions imposed in the future. The professor thinks Chinese consumers have various food choices if they find the viruses on packaging on imported frozen food still appear. But since the viruses are usually found on the packages, instead of the food itself, Professor Liu thinks we should enhance the protective measures for those workers on the logistic line.