The Counterfeit Food Crisis in China: A Systemic Problem and Possible Solutions

Abstract

In 2008, infant milk powder laced with the toxic chemical melamime to exaggerate protein content was sold in Chinese markets, resulting in infant deaths and thousands of illnesses. Since then, the counterfeit food industry in China has become infamous. China’s central government has attempted to fight back against the production and sale of unsafe foods through evolving food safety laws. Yet, its people remain wary of food products originating from China, and counterfeit food items manufactured in China continue to invade both Chinese and foreign markets. This is arguably because of the dark underbelly of the Chinese government, corrupt local officials who avoid enforcing food safety standards due to the economic incentive to allow counterfeiting to occur. This article presents the counterfeit food problem that plagues China, and examines China’s response in the development of stricter and more standardized food safety law, promulgated from its central government. It then discusses why local government corruption occurs in China, and how such local corruption prevents China from realizing the effectiveness of its laws. Finally, this article proposes several mechanisms to combat the production and sale of counterfeit foods.