The Ministry of Health (MOH) will issue a blacklist of substances that help food taste better or make them appear more nutritious but could be toxic or harmful in other ways.

"The blacklist will include non-food substances, especially toxic or harmful substances, which are likely to be used in food products," Su Zhi, deputy director of the health supervision bureau of the MOH, said on a China Central Television program yesterday.

"The MOH is working with related departments on the blacklist that would be updated constantly. We will conduct stricter tests on blacklisted substances while checking food production lines," he said.