A survey conducted by the Ministry of Commerce found 74.4 percent of Chinese rural consumers have started to pay attention to food safety issue thanks to efforts aimed at promoting green consumption.

Rural consumers' criteria in choosing food has shifted from "price priority" to "quality and price priority," the ministry said on its website on Monday.

In order to ensure food safety in rural areas, the ministry worked out policies to strengthen management over retail and wholesale of farm produce and agricultural by-products.

Meanwhile, food quality inspections and the crack down on the production and sale of low quality food has intensified to protect the rights of farmers.

In addition, the ministry opened a "green channel" to facilitate the circulation of rural goods, which not only lowered the transportation cost and increased the transportation of fresh and live farm produce, but also made it possible for farmers to consume safe food from other places.

So far, China has opened more than 20 railway and highway green channels, with a total mileage of 67,000 km.

The ministry launched a green consumption campaign in the country six years ago in cooperation with 12 other departments in a bid to increase public awareness about food safety.

Source: Xinhua