On the positive side, Chinese people's intake of salt is decreasing, partly because people eat less pickled vegetables. However, the present intake of salt is still double the 6 grams per day suggested by the World Health Organization. Many local governments have distributed salt measuring spoons free of charge in an attempt to discourage high salt consumption.

    In the 21st century, Chinese people's diets are rich and colorful, and many have the desire to try new things. Various local cuisines go in and out of fashion across the country, but Sichuan cuisine, known for its hot flavor, is a perennial favorite. Popular dishes include Hot and Spicy Lobster, Sauteed Crab in Hot Spicy Sauce, and Hot and Spicy Fish Stew.

    Especially since the SARS outbreak, people have shifted from a focus on what's "good to eat" to "eating properly." Foods made from coarse grains have come back to dining tables because they are rich in vegetable fiber and trace elements, and milk has become a daily necessity rather than a luxury item.

    Milk is considered by Chinese to be a food of magic functions. It is reported that the average height of Japanese youngsters is greater than that of Chinese youths because the former consume more milk. In the early 1990s, the average annual consumption of milk among Chinese youngsters was 2-3 kg per capita. In 2003, President Hu Jintao linked the consumption of milk to the enhancement of the Chinese nation's physical quality. In 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao said, "I have a dream: that every Chinese person, especially children, can drink one pound of milk per day." At present, many families have replaced soybean milk with cow's milk for breakfast. The annual per capita consumption of milk products in urban areas increased from 9.23 kg in 1992 to 24.87 kg in 2007, and in rural areas from 1.16 kg to 3.52 kg.

    In 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture started the Action Plan for Pollution-free Food, and in 2004 the state promulgated Measures for Organic Product Certification and Administration. But due to high prices, organic foods initially had few buyers, and lackluster demand meant organic foods were the most over-stocked commodities in supermarkets. After food safety issues began catching people's attention, organic foods, especially vegetables and fruits, gradually became more popular, and people have begun to spend more money to "buy food safety." In April 2008, public opinion on the Draft of the Food Safety Law was solicited. Du Huizhen, president of the Society of Nutrition of Shandong Province, remarked, "It is a qualitative leap from the Food Hygiene Law to the Food Safety Law."