OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2012.  The Food Safety Committee of Anhui Province required food watchdogs throughout the province should ramp up efforts to ensure food safety during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Day and National Day holidays, according to an announcement issued recently.

Food safety regulators will inform producers and dealers of serious consequences unlawful production and sale will lead to, warning that if any illegal practices are found, they should assume liability, the committee said in the announcement.

Also, local authorities are to raise residents' safety awareness and keep them on guard against risks posed by eating foods like wild mushrooms, processed foods high in nitrites and picnics, according to the announcement.

Food wholesale markets and school canteens will be the key monitoring spots to the regulators.

The announcement stipulates that food safety authorities should work an 24-hour shift and be fully prepared in case of emergency during the holidays.

The move is the latest bid to ensure food safety following a spate of food poisoning outbreaks involving wild toadstools and picnics that left several dead and many infected with intestinal diseases in August.