The impact of food safety regulation on the health of middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from Chinese food safety pilot cities

Chen Mingcong, Ma Qingshan and Sun Qiqi

Economic Analysis and Policy, 2025, vol. 86, issue C, 1182-1197

Abstract: Food safety is crucial for the health of middle-aged and older population. This paper aims to assess the impact of Food Safety Model Cities (FSPCs), implemented in batches in China, on the health of middle-aged and older adults. The analysis uses data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011-2018, which employed a multi-stage sampling method. The study applies the staggered difference-in-differences (DID) method to comprehensively explore the effects of FSPCs on health outcomes. The findings reveal that, first, FSPCs significantly reduced the likelihood of chronic diseases among middle-aged and older adults, effectively improving their overall health. The effect varies based on factors such as age, place of residence, whether or not individuals live with children, and personal experiences of famine. Second, FSPCs enhanced the daily living skills, cognitive abilities, and self-reported health of middle-aged and older adults, although they had no significant impact on mental health. Third, FSPCs reduced health deprivation and mitigated health inequalities among the population. This paper offers policy implications for further improving the health of middle-aged and older adults through the development of FSPCs.

Keywords: Food safety regulation; Food safety pilot cities; The health of middle-aged and elderly individuals; Chronic diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J14 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:86:y:2025:i:c:p:1182-1197

DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2025.04.001

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