Food safety alert issued ahead of lunar new year

[amg]

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Health said Monday morning that the government would strengthen law enforcement on illegal substance and addictive abuse in food as the Chinese lunar new year, the country's biggest festivity, draws near.

Mao Qun'an, the ministry spokesman, said that an interagency mechanism had been set up to enforce laws and regulations on food safety, particularly in the two weeks preceding the Chinese lunar new year which starts on January 26, 2009, in seven provinces, including Hebei, where the melamine-tainted milk formula scandal occurred.

The spokesman said the inspection would primarily focus on supermarkets and food-additive processing factories and restaurants. He said violators would be severely punished.

Mao also promised the ministry would publicize major violations as soon as possible.