A mixed methods analysis of the implementation policy and practice gap of national food safety standards in China's grassroots areas (2023–2024) —— Based on the tracking evaluation in Ankang, Shaanxi Province

Objective: This study focuses on Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, to explore the systemic barriers to implementing national food safety standards (NFSS) in grassroots areas of China. Using a mixed-methods approach, it investigates key gaps in policy implementation, practitioner capabilities, and government resource allocation in these regions. The aim is to propose actionable solutions to enhance compliance and effectiveness of National Food Safety Standards of China (NFSSC) in under-resourced areas. Study design: The survey targets county-level practitioners, enterprises, and government regulatory agencies. Additional methods include standard promotion training, field investigations, expert reviews, and exchange seminars. Data were analyzed through thematic coding and statistical evaluation, focusing on seven NFSSC categories, including the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760-2024) and the National Food Safety Standard for General Hygiene Practices in Catering Services(GB31654-2021). Methods: This study employs a mixed-methods approach, primarily using cross-sectional surveys conducted from October 2023 to November 2024 (n = 185 valid responses from 238 participants). Results: The main findings indicate that: (1) There is a lack of professional competence among practitioners: 97. 8 % of the workforce holds a bachelor degree or lower, with limited opportunities for professional training; (2) Policy implementation barriers: misunderstandings of standards (such as unclear classification in the Hygienic Specifications for Ready-to-Eat Fresh Cut Fruits and Vegetables (GB31652-2021)) and inconsistent enforcement; (3) Resource constraints: insufficient funding and personnel shortages from government regulators and relevant practitioners, leading to significant gaps between policy and practice during standard implementation. Among the 98 preliminary feedbacks, 42 were valid suggestions, most of which focused on promoting standards and providing technical guidance. Conclusions: This study highlights the implementation barriers between national standards and grassroots governance realities. We propose our solutions: (1) Establish and Improve the Third-Party Tracking Evaluation Service System in Grassroots Areas; (2) Optimize Inter-departmental Collaboration Mechanisms and Enhance Standard-related Publicity, Training, and Professional Competence Assessment at the Grassroots Level; (3) Establish an Expert Team or Management Evaluation Institution for Food Safety Standards; (4) Enhance the Special Fund Guarantee Mechanism for Standard Tracking and Evaluation.