BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) tested 233,300 food samples nationwide throughout 2017, finding 97.6 percent of food up to standard, an increase of 0.8 percentage points year on year.

According to a statement released by the CFDA, the safety rate of samples of baby formula reached 99.5 percent last year, up 0.7 percentage points year on year.

"China's food safety condition has been steadily improving over the past years," said Sun Meijun, deputy head of the CFDA, noting that the safety rate has been on the rise since 2014.

No melamine has been found in baby formula for nine consecutive years, while no Sudan-red detected in egg products for four years, according to the CFDA.

Sun, however, ordered the stepping-up of supervision and preventive measures as outstanding problems in food safety remain, according to inspection results, which show excessive use of additives, microbial pollution, pesticide residue, heavy metals and biological toxins.?