(Ecns.cn)--A new food safety standard on flash-frozen dough and rice products released last month by China's Ministry of Health is expected to go into effect on Dec. 21.
The new standard allows bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, or "golden staph," to exist in frozen foods, as long as it is controlled to a certain degree.
In the previous standard, testing for golden staph was not required in such foods.
The ministry stressed that it had not shown leniency in the matter, saying that the previous standard had only served as a general provision when it was introduced.
"This new standard is the international practice to test for microorganisms, and many countries allow the existence of bacterium in frozen foods within a specific range," said Dong Jinshi, executive vice-president of the International Food Packaging Association.
