Food safety is Chinese people's No.1 concern, with 72 percent putting it ahead of 10 other issues including social security, and medical and marriage safety, according to a recent survey.

The survey, jointly conducted by the Beijing-based Xiaokang Magazine and Tsinghua University in 12 cities in June, said Chinese people's concern over food safety was dramatically increased after the melamine scandal that haunted the whole milk industry in 2008.

People’s confidence in food safety still remains low, with 40 percent confident about the safety of food bought at supermarkets, and only 20 percent trusting Chinese milk powder brands, according to the survey.

A new food safety monitoring organization was founded to deal with this problem on Feb 9 this year, with three Chinese vice premiers as the heads.

(chinadaily.com.cn July 1, 2010)