Coronavirus found on cold-chain imports in China

Source:  China Daily, 27th Febuary 2021

Chinese customs have identified 79 cases of coronavirus in cold-chain imports. Customs said that 56 foreign manufacturers involved in shipping contaminated food products to China have been suspended from filing import applications for one to four weeks, as a preventive measure to fend off the virus' spread through cold-chain imports.

China has tightened its inspection of cold chain imports, however, no infection has been found in consumers as a result of cold-chain imports. Read more here

Image: China Daily 

South Beauty launches new sub-brand in Beijing

Source:  China Daily, 23rd February 2021

Restaurant chain South Beauty launched its new sub-brand Chunfengshili in February, opening its first branch in Beijing.

The renowned restaurant features an eight-second fish sashimi with golden soup as its signature dish, which gives traditional Sichuan cuisine a modern twist –the fish is sliced into paper-thin fillets and is ready to eat after being marinated in a golden spicy and sour boiled soup for only eight seconds. Read more here:

Image: China.org

China's economy continues to recover in 2021

Source: China Daily 15 March 2021

The Chinese economy has continued to recover in January and February 2021. China's national bureau of statistics said that major economic indicators have been surging when compared with last year's low comparison rate. 

However, despite improvements, the NBS said the Chinese economy still faces multiple challenges including the lingering uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic situation. See full article

Image: Joshua Ferenandez / Unsplash
 

Visitors to Japan down 99.3%

Source:  The Japan Times, 17th March 2021

The estimated number of overseas visitors to Japan in February fell 99.3% from a year earlier to 7,400 due to reintroduced travel restrictions on business travellers amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Japan had partially eased entrance restrictions on people visiting the country for business purposes or long-term stays from last summer, however this has since reverted to a country wide band following the government’s declaration of a state of emergency in January for the Tokyo metropolitan area. Read the article here

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Singapore eateries that have survived generations 

Source:  The Straits Times, 13th March 2021

Singapore is well known for its fickle, trend-obsessed food-and-beverage industry. Over the ups and downs and dealing with the radical changes and uncertainty of the industry,  three family-run eateries have stood the test of time to mark milestones this year.

This article explores how these Singapore eateries have survived, remained relevant to their brand, and continue to meet the changing demands of generations of customers.  

Image: Unsplash

10 sustainable seafood trends for 2021 

Source: Marine Stewardship Council

Want to know the biggest seafood trends for the year ahead? The Marine Stewardship Council has released its top sustainable seafood trends for 2021. 

From 'seacuterie' and 'fin-to-gill' cookery, to authentic storytelling and tinned freshwater fish, their sustainable seafood experts have revealed what will be making waves in the year ahead. 

See the top 10 sustainable seafood trends for 2021.

Image: Unsplash

What the Australian seafood industry can learn from Covid-19 

Source: Australian Food News, 4th March 2021

A recent Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) report has analysed how COVID-19 affected the seafood industry in Australia, intending to use this knowledge to prepare the sector for future shocks.

Funded by the FRDC, the study found that the overall impacts of COVID-19 have been asymmetric, with domestic retail markets mostly able to prosper, while producers selling into export markets and the domestic dine-in foodservice sector were often brought to their knees.
Read the full article here.

Image: Australian Food News
 

Digital seafood marketplace ShoreTrade expanding to global shores

Source:  Smart Company, 9th March 2021

Aussie ‘Amazon for fish’ startup ShoreTrade has secured $8M in fresh funding, as it gears up to turn global fish markets on their head. Originally a platform aimed at connecting the fisher to the consumer (B2C), the platform has expanded to become a business-to-business (B2B) supplier. Founder Peter Manettas said that with COVID-19 and trade tensions with China causing continued disruptions in the market, the opportunity is only getting bigger. See full article 

Image: Shore Trade

Study suggests seafood fraud on a vast global scale

Source:  The Fish Site, 15 March 2021

A new analysis of 44 studies has found that 36 percent of seafood products were mislabeled. The analysis, which was undertaken by The Guardian, examined studies of over 9,000 seafood samples from restaurants, fishmongers, and supermarkets in more than 30 countries – with their findings suggesting “seafood fraud on a vast global scale”.

See full article here:

Image: Unsplash
 

Seafood and Covid–19 moving from shock to stability 

Source:  The Fish Site, 15th March 2021

Worldfish research centre has analysed the responses of the global seafood sector to the first months of the coronavirus crisis. The research, which focuses on how food systems can build resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges, suggests that the economic and human shocks of the coronavirus pandemic could be a crucial window of opportunity for the global seafood sector. Full article 

Image: Unsplash