The most tough food safety regulation in Shanghai was taken into effect on 20th March 2017. On the same day, the popular French bakery chain Farine was found in an expired flour scandal.

The scandal was initially exposed by one of the bakery’s staff. The local Market supervision officials seized expired wheat flour after whistleblower said the popular bakery uses moldy flour. Then 578 packs of flours of 13 bathes were found in Farine’s central kitchen in Minhang district with expiry dates from 28th July 2016 to 5th March 2017 and had been made into 11 types of breads and were distributed to its four franchises in Xuhui district, Huangpu district and Pudong New Area. Due to the shops are under the administration by different administrative bureaus, the shops were closed two days later.

Eight executives of Farine were allegedly using expired flour and were now controlled by the local police. The director of the Food and Drug Administration said that the bakeries violated China food safety law by using food items beyond their expiry date and the executives would take legal responsibility if found to have committed crimes.

Shanghai Food and Drug Administration has increased the maximum cash prize to whistleblowers for tipping off wrongdoings related to food safety as 1%-3% of the total target price.

Dongjin Comments: with the implementation of the new food safety regulation in Shanghai, the food safety should be taken more care of. Actually the new regulation bring more people (as the supplier, the staffs and the customers) to supervise the food safety. If it is found any illegal actions, the senior management may be charged for the crime.

If you have any questions, please send the email to me.

Ms. Jojo Hu           

TEL: 0086-21-68868335 ext 324 / FAX: 0086-21-68868021

Email: jojohu@shanghaiinvest.com