WeChat helps ensure food safety in North China

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-01-28

People in the city of Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region now can get?more information on some agricultural products by simply scanning code bars on a package.

It is realized by a system from WeChat, a social media platform, which gives people access to the city's food quality tracking system with information of the producer, the production process, and the date, to ensure food safety.

The system is not only backed by customers, but also welcomed by producers, for example the vice-manager of an agricultural products company in Baotou, Ma Jinwei, who says, "Last August we went to a marketing fair in Beijing and when people saw that our products have the two-dimensional information code on the package, they quickly decided to buy our goods," then adds, "They think ours are fresh and safe for customers, so the system is like a quality guarantee and helps improve our image."

The system was started in 2013 and now has 53 sites around Baotou with plans to expand to 100 sites this year.

Fruit with the information code on the package. [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]

Staff checks a sample. [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]

Customer scans the bar code for information. [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]