Boiling point: China’s pre-made meals are testing trust at the table

They promise consistency, cost savings and the speed demanded by modern life. But in a culture that reveres freshness and the wok hei benchmark for Chinese dishes, the rapid rise of industrially processed pre-made meals has stirred a heated debate – and simmering anger. The recent public outcry has been driven not by food safety fears, but by a perceived lack of transparency. Diners at restaurants are increasingly incensed about paying premium prices for reheated factory packets served without...