China's rice imports double, people worry about grain pollution

After infant formula and new Zealand milk, Japanese rice has also begun to become one of the items that Chinese people buy from abroad at high prices, mainly due to Chinese people's concerns about domestic rice pollution, the report said.

China's rice imports grow several times, people worry about food pollution

According to the Japan National Association for Agricultural Cooperation, China's rice imports from Japan increased more than threefold in 2013, a trend that indicates a decline in Chinese consumers 'confidence in their country's food security.

One seller of Japanese rice on Taobao said,"Chinese farmers use pesticides, while Japanese rice is not contaminated with heavy metals."

Industrial pollution has had a serious impact on China's soil and water quality, and many people have been buying affordable and safe Thai rice.

By contrast, Japanese rice is not cheap for most Chinese, costing about 74 yuan per kilogram, while Chinese rice costs about 7.5 yuan.

As consumer demand continues to rise, many Chinese people are buying rice directly from Japanese sellers on websites such as Taobao. Many people say rice from countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Japan is safer and less polluted than rice from China.