Comment on "Food safety drive targets supervision" (China Daily, May 24)

According to China Daily's report, the Supreme People's Procuratorate has decided to crack down on crimes such as bribery, negligence and favoritism in the food industry. Authorities have finally admitted that corruption and officials' negligence are to blame for the frequent food safety scandals in the country.

It's high time that the authorities took effective measures to curb such malpractices and restore public confidence in the administration.

I am glad to know that the government has started a nationwide campaign to curb the rampant use of additives in food. But I am afraid that such a campaign may not last long, and the malpractices will make a comeback after sometime. Such a phenomenon is not unknown in China.

Moreover, food safety is a very complicated issue and involves many departments. All these departments have to join hands to deal with the problem. Without their joint efforts, the problem cannot be entirely solved.

Food safety is directly related to people's health. So the government should strengthen regulation and supervision of the food industry to build a healthy society.

Xiao Yan, via e-mail

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(China Daily 05/26/2011 page9)