The South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday that online sales platforms are experiencing a shortage of stock due to Chinese shoppers purchasing large quantities of canned fruit. This surge in demand is a result of a common misconception among Chinese shoppers who believe that peaches can be used to treat the coronavirus.
The media in the state is hurrying to distinguish between comfort food and medical therapy.
People’s Daily, the primary publication of the Chinese Communist Party, informed Gao Xiaoling, a deputy director at a hospital in Shaanxi, that preserved yellow peaches do not possess any extraordinary medicinal properties for treating fever and cough. Instead, they can be regarded as a sugary “placebo,” similar to the cake you consume or the milk tea you indulge in when experiencing stress.
On Monday, Beijing Youth Daily, a publication operated by the Communist Youth League of China, penned the statement that “the assertion that ‘canned yellow peaches possess curative properties,’ derived from pleasant childhood recollections, lacks any tangible efficacy in treating illnesses.” “Rather, it can merely be perceived as a form of jest or artistic representation.”
The Daily Youth Beijing also scolded readers for their increasing interest in online searches about canned peaches, stating that it is not recommended to blindly stock up on canned food. However, it can be beneficial for your body and make you happy if you eat them in moderation.
The claims of having conclusive evidence to support them continue, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the belief that vitamins can cure the virus led to a significant increase in sales of orange juice, echoing the peach-buying frenzy of 2020 in the US.
COVID goes beyond canned peaches in Chinese trust. Colds can be considered as a sweet treat to remedy folk in China, especially in certain regions. The Daily China newspaper, run by the Party, wrote that canned peaches are sometimes called “magic healing medicine” for children, as they help with recovery from surgery and convince some people.
In November, Airfinity, a research company based in London, stated that due to the low vaccination rates and a lack of hybrid immunity, the country is endangering the lives of 1.3 to 2.1 million people by abandoning its zero-COVID policy. As China moves forward with its reopening, the importance is significant for China’s efforts to provide reliable medical guidance.
According to The New York Times, 44% of Americans above the age of 65 have received their second booster shot, while 71% have received their first booster shot. In addition, over 80% of Americans above the age of 60 have received their first booster shot. As for the Chinese population, 69% of individuals aged 60 and above have received their booster shots, as reported by Bloomberg.
Instances of COVID-19 have abruptly surged, and at least one medical facility in the city center of Beijing is summoning physicians and nurses from their absence due to illness and time off to manage the situation. Furthermore, the administration of President Xi Jinping issued a decree of “complete mobilization” on Thursday to rapidly enhance healthcare establishments in anticipation of a surge in infections.