If you care about what’s in your food, buy pre-packaged products: loose goods at retail counters aren’t legally required to list ingredients

36. If you care about what’s in your food, buy pre-packaged products: loose goods at retail counters aren’t legally required to list ingredients

Cost: No cost at all. Pre-packaged versions of the same items are usually a bit pricier than loose ones. Checking the ingredient list takes just a few seconds.

In plain terms: The law only mandates ingredient lists for pre-packaged foods; loose goods have no such requirement. For loose products, retailers only need to display the product name, production date, shelf life, and manufacturer details. So, the absence of any mention of additives does not mean they were not added — it simply means the law does not require them to be listed. If you care about what’s in your food, opt for pre-packaged versions where both the full ingredient list and additive details are clearly printed.

Benefit: Article 67 of China’s Food Safety Law stipulates that all pre-packaged foods must carry a label containing nine mandatory pieces of information. The second item on this list is the “list of ingredients or components,” and the seventh item is “the generic names of any food additives used, as defined in national standards.” Article 68 contains far fewer requirements for loose foods: it only requires retailers to display the product name, production date or batch number, shelf life, and the manufacturer’s name, address, and contact details on the packaging or container. There is no mention of ingredient lists or additives here. This distinction is most evident in frozen seafood products. GB 2760—2024 permits the use of phosphoric acid and phosphates as moisture retention agents — commonly referred to as water-retaining agents — in frozen seafood, with a maximum permitted usage level of 5.0 g/kg calculated as phosphate. Use within this limit is fully legal. The main issues arise from excessive usage and the practice of adding ice to increase product weight. Following a 2025 exposé by China Central Television’s 3·15 Gala, which revealed that some shrimp producers illegally added excessive amounts of water-retaining agents (composite phosphates) and added extra ice to boost weight, regulatory authorities mandated that all such products must clearly list water-retaining agents like phosphates, net weight (excluding ice coating weight), and full ingredient lists on their labels (this requirement applies nationwide, per the third 2025 amendment to China’s Food Safety Law, effective 1 December 2025).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (third revision in 2025). Food Safety Law of China (Articles 67 and 68, announced on September 12, 2025, effective on December 1, 2025). <https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916b87ef3>; National Health Commission of China (NHC), State Administration for Market Regulation of China (2024). National Food Safety Standard Food Additive Use Standard (GB 2760—2024, Food Classification Number 09.02.01 Frozen Aquatic Products under Appendix A Table A.1 "Phosphoric Acid and Phosphate Salts"; A.3 stipulates that the food additives listed in Table A.1 should be used according to the prescribed scope of use and maximum usage amount). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_7001729.htm>; Lu'an Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (2025). Reminder and warning letter for related enterprises regarding aquatic products and the use of water-retaining agents (March 24, 2025). <https://scjgj.luan.gov.cn/zwzx/tzgg/5414606.html>

Notes: The fact that additives are not listed on a product does not mean they were not added — it simply means the law does not require them to be disclosed. If you want to know exactly what a product contains, always choose pre-packaged versions. For frozen shrimp, fish fillets, and similar items, the net weight listed on pre-packaged packaging already excludes ice coating weight; using this figure to calculate unit price gives a much more accurate cost estimate. For loose products priced by weight, the actual edible weight after thawing may drop significantly. Water-retaining agents are legal and not a safety hazard as long as they are used within permitted limits — do not mistake them for toxic substances. Excessive usage and added ice are purely commercial issues: you end up paying a premium price for mostly water content. Conversely, loose goods counters may also fail to display the four mandatory details required by Article 68: product name, production date, shelf life, and manufacturer contact information. Failure to display any of these constitutes a violation of the law. Consumers can choose not to purchase such products or file a complaint via the 12315 hotline. For business owners looking to sell packaged foods, specific labeling requirements are outlined in Section 12, Article 9 of this guide. This item delivers the highest level of benefit to both you and your family.