China has blacklisted 151 materials forbidden or abusable in food and feed over the past nine years, according to figures released by the food safety committee under the State Council, or China's Cabinet.

The materials include 47 inedible materials likely to be added illegally to food, 22 food additives easily to be abused and 82 substances forbidden in feed and drinking water for animals.

The government has posted these materials on the website of China's Health Ministry (http://www.moh.gov.cn) and the website of the Agriculture Ministry (http://english.agri.gov.cn/).

Tonyred, an industrial coloring agent, and ractopamine, which are used to promote leanness in pigs, are among the materials listed.

According to Chinese law, criminals producing and selling toxic or hazardous food could face a penalty as severe as capital punishment.

The Health Ministry began to publicize the list of forbidden food additives in 2008, and the Agriculture Ministry began listing substances forbidden in feed and drinking water in 2002.

China is waging a prolonged and stringent fight against the illegal use of additives in food, with Vice Premier Li Keqiang earlier this week promising "a firm attitude, iron hand measures and more efforts" in dealing with the problem.

The State Council, the Ministry of Health, and the State Food and Drug Administration also publicized detailed measures in the past week to combat the problem, saying they will intensify supervision, upgrade safety limits, and greatly increase penalties for violators.

These moves came after a series of food safety scandals, including steamed buns dyed with unidentified chemicals, the use of "lean meat powder" and the use of illegal cooking oil known as "gutter oil," emerged despite Chinese authorities' efforts to revamp the country's food industry.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2011)