If ingredients matter to you, choose packaged food; China's bulk-food rules do not require an ingredient list
Chinese law requires ingredient and additive declarations on prepackaged food, but not the same full list at bulk-food counters. Bulk-food counters must still display the name, production date, shelf life, and producer. A missing additive declaration does not prove none was used. Choose the packaged version when you want the list.
What it takes
Checking a label takes seconds. Packaged versions may cost a little more than loose food.
What you may gain
Food Safety Law Article 67 requires nine label categories for prepackaged food, including ingredients in item 2 and standard generic names of additives in item 7. Article 68 requires bulk-food containers or outer packaging to state name, production date or batch, shelf life, and producer/operator name, address and contact details, without listing ingredients or additives. Frozen seafood makes the difference tangible. GB 2760—2024 permits phosphoric acid and phosphates as moisture-retaining agents in frozen aquatic products at up to 5.0 g/kg calculated as phosphate. Use within the limit is legal; excessive use and added ice weight are the issues. After CCTV's March 15, 2025 exposure of excessive compound phosphates and ice glazing in shrimp, regulators required labels to state moisture retainers such as phosphates, net weight excluding glaze and the ingredient list. The cited Food Safety Law third amendment took effect December 1, 2025.
Context & considerations
No declaration is not evidence of no additive. For packaged frozen shrimp or fish, compare prices using net weight excluding glaze; loose products may shrink markedly after thawing. Permitted moisture retainers within limits are not inherently a safety problem or “poison.” Excess addition and inflated ice weight can mean paying seafood prices for water. Bulk sellers must still display their required particulars; missing name, date, shelf life or operator identity/contact information violates Article 68. Decline the purchase or contact 12315. For your own food business, see prepackaged-food labeling. The main beneficiaries are you and your family, the book's two highest-priority groups.
Research & references
NPC Standing Committee of China (third amendment, 2025). Food Safety Law, Articles 67 and 68, published September 12 and effective December 1, 2025. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=7b5a76d0461745a08d3f964916b87ef3 ; National Health Commission and SAMR (2024). National Food Safety Standard for Uses of Food Additives, GB 2760—2024, Appendix A, Table A.1, phosphoric acid/phosphates, category 09.02.01 frozen aquatic products; A.3 requires adherence to scope and maximum amounts. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_7001729.htm ; Lu'an Market Regulation Administration (2025). Reminder to aquatic-product and moisture-retainer businesses, March 24. https://scjgj.luan.gov.cn/zwzx/tzgg/5414606.html