BEIJING: As public concerns over food safety mounted following a spate of scandals, Chinese officials claimed to have detected 15,000 cases of substandard food in a crackdown and shut down 5,700 unlicensed businesses since the beginning of this year.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) told media here that the irregularities were discovered after authorities across the country launched 9.97 million inspections on food businesses, which included wholesalers and sellers at market fairs.
Dairy products, edible oils, seasonal foods and alcoholic beverages were among the major food categories targeted during the inspections.
Li Yujia, deputy head of the SAIC's food bureau, said that the SAIC will continue to step up checks on sectors, including dairy products, food additives and edible oils, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
The Chinese public has become increasingly concerned over food safety after a slew of scares - from melamine-tainted baby formula products to pork contaminated with clenbuterol - exposed the vulnerability of the country's food sector.
Recently, China's top baby formula food maker Yili Industrial Group recalled several of its products after quality regulators found an "unusual amount" of mercury in the some of the products.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said mercury, a metallic element that is toxic in high doses, was detected in several batches of Yili's dairy products.
Despite a well-developed dairy industry, Chinese parents continue to rely more on foreign baby food products after a series of scandals involving contaminated baby food products.
China was also shocked by a 'gutter oil' scandal in which some of the traders recycled oil discarded after usage.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) told media here that the irregularities were discovered after authorities across the country launched 9.97 million inspections on food businesses, which included wholesalers and sellers at market fairs.
Dairy products, edible oils, seasonal foods and alcoholic beverages were among the major food categories targeted during the inspections.
Li Yujia, deputy head of the SAIC's food bureau, said that the SAIC will continue to step up checks on sectors, including dairy products, food additives and edible oils, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
The Chinese public has become increasingly concerned over food safety after a slew of scares - from melamine-tainted baby formula products to pork contaminated with clenbuterol - exposed the vulnerability of the country's food sector.
Recently, China's top baby formula food maker Yili Industrial Group recalled several of its products after quality regulators found an "unusual amount" of mercury in the some of the products.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said mercury, a metallic element that is toxic in high doses, was detected in several batches of Yili's dairy products.
Despite a well-developed dairy industry, Chinese parents continue to rely more on foreign baby food products after a series of scandals involving contaminated baby food products.
China was also shocked by a 'gutter oil' scandal in which some of the traders recycled oil discarded after usage.
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