Five citizens in Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu province visited a food chemical test laboratory on January 7, 2014, to experience food test procedures and learn from food safety supervisors.

In the bright lab, many pieces of chemical equipment sat on the desk. Testers wearing white gowns were busy testing various foods.

“Are we allowed to see the procedure to test oil?” someone asked.

“Of course, oil is an issue many people care about,” said Cai Chunming, director of the lab.

Most people don’t know much about food chemical testing. The lab, with 18 staff members, is responsible for quality inspection of 156 food enterprises in the city. A total of 28 categories of food, including grain products, oil and related products, flavorings, meat products, milk products, drinks, fast food, frozen food and wine, are tested in the lab.

Each enterprise has to send samples twice every year to the lab for tests. Testers will pick some products at random in markets to test.

Furthermore, staff in the lab will give suggestions on quality inspection and technical improvement to the enterprises.

In 2013, the lab held four training sessions for food inspectors in enterprises to make sure they are qualified to do basic inspections on products.