Source: VASEP.com.vn
China has released its 2025–2030 Food and Nutrition Development Guidelines, with a strong focus on improving diet quality by increasing consumption of high-protein foods. The policy sets a bold target: high-quality protein must account for over 50% of total daily caloric intake—a shift that could significantly boost demand for seafood in the world’s most populous nation.
According to Chen Mansheng, Director of China’s National Food and Nutrition Committee (as quoted by China Daily), current protein consumption in China lags far behind global recommendations, reaching only half the levels seen in developed countries.
Seafood as a Strategic Nutritional Source
The newly issued guidelines go beyond general dietary advice by proposing concrete policies to increase fish and seafood consumption. One key proposal is the integration of seafood into school meal programs, echoing earlier recommendations from the Asia Seafood Research Foundation (ASRF) which urged governments to expand public meal systems (such as school lunches and provincial food distribution programs) using value-added processed fish products.
As reported by Health Times, a publication under the People’s Daily, the updated national recommendations encourage Chinese citizens to maintain balanced daily intake as follows:
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~60g of protein per day, with fish being one of the preferred sources
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50–70g of fat, prioritizing unsaturated fats from fish oil
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Whole grains as the main source of carbohydrates, comprising 25–33% of total food volume
A New Market Frontier for Seafood Exporters
This policy shift not only reflects China’s growing public health ambitions, but also presents a major opportunity for the global seafood industry—particularly for exporters like Russia, which views China as a key growth market.
As China actively reshapes its national food system to align with international nutrition benchmarks, demand for diverse, affordable, and protein-rich seafood products is expected to rise, opening doors for both domestic innovation and imported supply chains.