The Shanghai Food and Drug Administration launched training for the city’s first group of food safety supervisors yesterday after three-years of preparation that will also introduce international practices of food safety control to prevent food poisoning recognized by World Health Organization.

More than 80 trainees have taken the courses. Food safety supervisors, different from food watchdogs, are usually employees at food companies who can find the safety loopholes as soon as possible.

They are required to be equipped with essential knowledge and skills about food safety in order to give an overall assessment of safety and sanitation, as well as instruct other staff to operate properly.

Statistics show that improper operation has caused 80 percent of food poisoning cases in the city. Food companies will be denied food safety permits without qualified food safety supervisors.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )