One of China’s leading tilapia processors and exporters has switched focus to the functional foods business with a range of shrimp in pouches for children.
Hainan Xiangtai Fishery Co. is selling the cooked “fresh, healthy Latin American” shrimp in 180-gram pouches at CNY 22.00 (USD 3.28, EUR 2.92) per pouch.
Functional foods have long been a focus of the Chinese food market, with products like cod and salmon regularly marketed as a health fix for infants and the elderly. Product developers often point to an official government dietary policy – outlined in the “Healthy China 2030” document, which sets dietary guidelines for citizens – that encourages the consumption of seafood. The document’s purpose is to steer Chinese citizens towards healthier food choices and reduce government health expenditures on growing problems like diabetes and obesity.
One other firm aiming to sync its products with government consumption objectives include Da Yang Shi Jia, which sells a “tuna flake for infants” specifically marketed for the healthy development of children. The firm sells a 115-gram can of tuna “with EPA and DHA” (a reference to nutritionally beneficial fish oils) for CNY 28.00 (USD 4.17, EUR 3.72) on the online grocery store JD.com.
