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China Daily | Updated: 2009-06-02 07:44

June 1, 1984

Food industry still to meet kids' nutrition needs

The section of the food industry catering to children has made noticeable progress since the Communist Party of China Central Committee urged the nation to look after the health of children.

Nearly 40 factories have been set up or expanded in the past three years to manufacture food for children. The variety of food available has increased, too, with the emergence of new products such as baby milk powder, marrow and liver jelly, and food enriched with vitamin and minerals.

But despite the progress, the number and quality of food products available for children still do not meet the demand. China today has 35 million children under the age of two, but the food produced can meet only 30 percent of their nutritional needs. As a result, many babies have to make do with adults' food.

Sugar production drops, may not meet Plan goal

China's sugar production is falling because of inconsistent local policies. Sugar output in 1983-84 production year is estimated at 3.5 million tons, 300,000 tons less than in the previous year.

Moreover, the total area used to grow sugar cane in the country's eight major sugar production regions has fallen to 1.04 million hectares, 80,000 hectares less than originally planned. This means production will decline further next year.

If this trend continues, production will fall short of the goal of 4.35 million tons of sugar set for the 6th Five-Year Plan (1981 - 1985).