A surreal depiction of a Chinese food market, illustrating the complexities of food safety and consumer trust

Food Fiascos in China: How Moral Outrage Fuels a Fight for Trust

Theo Raines in Culture & Society December 2025 • 4 min read.

"From tainted milk to regulatory failures, explore the moral economy behind China's ongoing food safety battles and what it means for consumer trust."

In contemporary China, a shadow of anxiety hangs over the food industry. Frequent scandals, ranging from tainted milk to unsafe ingredients, have eroded consumer trust and ignited a moral reckoning. These events are not merely product failures; they reflect deeper issues of governance, responsibility, and the very fabric of the relationship between citizens and the state.

This article explores the 'moral imaginings' that arise from these crises, focusing on how consumers articulate their grievances and expectations. We'll examine how Chinese citizens don't just look to laws and regulations, but also to a sense of fairness and the state's role in upholding it. This approach illuminates a fascinating interplay between market dynamics, moral values, and the quest for a trustworthy food supply.

Drawing on sociological research, this analysis goes beyond the surface of food safety issues, exploring the moral economy at play. It considers the state's role in the production and distribution of goods, highlighting the historical context that shapes the claims and expectations of Chinese consumers.

The Moral Economy: Where Values Meet the Market

A surreal depiction of a Chinese food market, illustrating the complexities of food safety and consumer trust

The concept of a 'moral economy,' as explored by scholars like E.P. Thompson, provides a crucial framework for understanding the Chinese food safety crisis. This concept underscores how economic activities are not just about transactions but are deeply embedded in social and ethical contexts. It's about shared values and mutual obligations. In the case of food, this means not just expecting products to be safe, but also that the system itself is just and trustworthy.

In China, where the state has long played a significant role in the economy, the moral economy is particularly complex. Consumers look to the government to ensure fairness and protect their well-being, but they often feel let down. The legal framework, though present, is frequently seen as insufficient, leading to a widespread sense of vulnerability.

Historical Context: Understanding the historical state-citizen relationship is key to comprehending the moral claims.
Consumer Expectations: Consumers expect the state to play a key role in regulating the market.
Distrust: Deep-seated distrust of manufacturers and sellers is common.
Moral Outrage: Food scandals trigger moral outrage and a demand for accountability.

This moral dimension is crucial. It reveals that consumer concerns go far beyond immediate safety. They extend to issues of fairness, transparency, and the broader integrity of the food system. This creates a complex environment in which trust becomes a scarce and highly valued commodity.

Moving Forward: Rebuilding Trust in the Chinese Food Market

The struggle for food safety in China is ongoing, yet understanding the moral economy is essential. By recognizing the complex interplay of historical context, consumer expectations, and the role of the state, we can move towards solutions. This requires not just legal reforms, but also a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and a shared vision of a food system that truly values both safety and fairness. It’s a challenge, but one that reflects the deep-seated desire for a just and trustworthy society.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/sea2.12134, Alternate LINK

Title: Moral Imaginings Of The Market And The State In Contemporary China

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Economic Anthropology

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Erika Kuever

Published: 2018-10-16

Everything You Need To Know

What is driving the intense scrutiny and outrage over food safety issues in China?

The intense scrutiny and moral outrage stem from a combination of frequent food scandals, such as tainted milk, and a deep-seated distrust in manufacturers and sellers. Consumers' expectations of the state to ensure fairness and protect their well-being are often unmet, leading to this outrage. The concept of a 'moral economy' highlights that these scandals aren't just about product failures but reflect deeper issues of governance and the relationship between citizens and the state, where anxieties about fairness and transparency are paramount.

What does the term 'moral economy' mean in the context of Chinese food safety?

In the context of Chinese food safety, 'moral economy' refers to the understanding that economic activities are embedded in social and ethical contexts, going beyond simple transactions. It encompasses shared values and mutual obligations, where consumers expect not only safe food products but also a just and trustworthy food system. Given the state's historical role in the economy, consumers look to the government to ensure fairness and protect their well-being, adding another layer to this moral framework.

Besides laws and regulations, what else do Chinese citizens expect regarding food safety?

Chinese citizens expect a sense of fairness and the state's active role in upholding it, beyond just having laws and regulations in place. They believe the state should ensure a just and trustworthy food system. This expectation is rooted in the historical context of the state-citizen relationship, where the government has traditionally played a significant role in the economy and the well-being of its citizens. The 'moral economy' concept underscores that consumers' concerns extend to transparency and the broader integrity of the food system.

How has the historical relationship between the state and its citizens in China influenced the current food safety concerns?

The historical state-citizen relationship significantly shapes the moral claims and expectations of Chinese consumers regarding food safety. Because the state has long played a central role in the economy, consumers expect the government to actively regulate the market, ensure fairness, and protect their well-being. Food scandals are therefore viewed not only as product failures but also as failures of the state to meet its moral obligations, intensifying consumer outrage and demands for accountability. This is a key component of the 'moral economy'.

What is needed to rebuild trust in the Chinese food market, and why is understanding the 'moral economy' essential for this?

Rebuilding trust in the Chinese food market requires more than just legal reforms; it demands a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and a shared vision of a food system that values both safety and fairness. Understanding the 'moral economy' is essential because it highlights the complex interplay of historical context, consumer expectations, and the state's role. Addressing the deep-seated distrust and moral outrage requires acknowledging and fulfilling the ethical and social obligations within the food system, moving towards a just and trustworthy society where the anxieties surrounding food safety are alleviated.