What do you think of Xi, one of the richest man in China? Is it okay that he’s so wealthy when other people go hungry? Or is inequality only not okay in western countries?
In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, China is one of 20 countries with a GHI score of less than 5. These countries are not assigned individual ranks, but rather are collectively ranked 1–20 out of the 125 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2023 GHI scores. Differences between their scores are minimal. With a score under 5, China has a level of hunger that is low.
Dietary habits in China have undergone profound changes in the past decade. Since the Economic Reform, the average disposable income has picked up rapidly, which led to a surge in food spending in both urban and rural households. Over the past four decades, China has drastically reduced its proportion of undernourished people, from 30 percent in 1979 to less than 2.5 percent. Today, meat and fish, once considered symbols of wealth, are part of the daily diet of ordinary people. Additionally, similar to its western counterparts, China’s emerging middle class has become increasingly conscious of the importance of a healthy diet.
What Chinese eat and drink
The rapid economic development of China and its well-developed transportation infrastructure have allowed Chinese to purchase food of all types from all over the country. As of 2021, nearly nine out of ten Chinese could afford a healthy meal. On Chinese dining tables, grain still dominates, but meat, vegetables, and fruits are gaining popularity. Between 2021 and 2026, China’s protein intake is expected to grow by over 10 percent, significantly higher than any other region of the world.
Although undernourishment is no longer a threat to the public in China, a fully healthy diet is still a long way off. A major eating problem affecting the public is excessive consumption of sugar and salt. As of 2023, China’s per capita salt intake exceeded 17.7 grams per day, more than three times the amount recommended by the WHO. A primary reason for the excessive salt intake was the dietary tradition of eating sauce, preserved vegetables, and cured meats. Furthermore, sodium intake was also influenced by the increasing consumption of restaurant and packaged foods.
Towards a healthier eating environment
Facing those challenges, China has implemented various campaigns and promotions to raise public’s awareness of healthy eating, including establishing a national nutrition plan. Traditional concepts like Yin and Yang, “food and medicine are synonymous” are still widely believed by the majority of Chinese, but many Chinese are embracing modern dietary knowledge such as organic and sugar-free diets. In 2022, over 55,000 organic products were available to Chinese consumers, tripling from a decade ago. It is estimated that the naturally healthy food market in China will grow by 10 billion U.S. dollars between 2016 and 2021, outpacing the rest of the world by a wide margin.
https://www.globalhungerindex.org/china.html
https://www.statista.com/topics/11504/eating-behavior-in-china/
It literally took two seconds to research this online, and I found many sources that contradict your claim, even by Western outlets.
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