Constance had stopped by the No Judgment Store for cigarettes and cocktail-hour food: processed cheese and crackers, gherkins, olives, meat that did not require refrigeration.

NEWYORKER: Shauntrelle

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent: This study says metabolic syndrome is a problem in the United States because of the way we eat: lots of red meat, lots of processed meat, and too much fried food.

CNN: Red meat linked to metabolic syndrome

The investigations come as Europe's food industry has been engulfed by a meat processing and labelling scandal after multiple processed meat products labelled as beef were revealed to contain quantities of horsemeat.

BBC: Germany investigates organic egg 'fraud'

As rising wealth collides with a string of scandals over tainted food in China, prospective acquirers could also shop for premium processed foods abroad, including olive oil and meat and dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, Ms. Pan said.

WSJ: Smithfield Deal Signals China's Need for Meat, Dairy, Other Food Buys