Hundreds of people were invited via the Internet to taste genetically modified rice at restaurants in 23 cities across China on Sunday in a move to further promote GM foods to the general public.

Wu Xingchuan, editor-in-chief of the science website scipark.net, the organizer of the event, said: "We are trying to get a message across to those who still doubt the safety of GM products: We believe that the GM rice is safe, and we are more than willing to eat it."

According to the first policy document issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee in January, China will strengthen research and manage the safety of GM foods.