Boosting Food Grade Soybean Sales to China
WASHINGTON - Nov 1/17 - SNS -- Chinese food processors are becoming more interested in U.S. origin food grade soybeans, says the U.S. agricultural attache in a recent report on a reverse trade mission to North Dakota.
Until now, U.S. product has suffered from "poor Chinese consumer perceptions and restrictive import 'zero tolerance' policies. The country's coastal provinces already import soybeans to produce tofu, soy milk and other foods. This is because of "advantageous import prices and purchasing convenience".
One of the problems facing the United States is that consumers are becoming more suspicious of GMO soybeans "rather than more accepting. The Chinese government initially encouraged society's suspicion of GMOs, because this suspicion could be used as a potential trade policy lever to influence imported food and other agricultural products.
"More recently, Chinese society has now begun to criticize GMO products on their own accord. Furthermore, many Chinese consumers are highly suspicious of food safety in general, because of the recent publicized domestic food safety scandals in China."
Only active subscribers can read all of this article.
If you are a subscriber, please log into the website.
If you are not a subscriber, click here to subscribe to this edition of the STAT website and to learn more about becoming a subscriber.
