Food poisoning deaths up 50 pct in Q1

A total of 18 people died of food poisoning in China in the first quarter of 2013, up 50 percent year on year, the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced on Tuesday.

From January to March, 755 people suffered food poisoning in 24 cases reported nationwide, an increase of 72.4 percent and 41.2 percent, respectively, from the same period last year, according to a commission report.

Plants and animals as well as poisonous mushrooms were the cause of most deaths, while most of the cases occurred in households, according to the report.

The commission asked the public to guard against food poisoning caused by bacteria, as food is more susceptible to contamination as the temperature rises.

All relevant departments have been told to pay attention to food and water safety in institutions providing catering services, especially in school cafeterias, and to better educate the public to store food in the right way.