Chinese authorities have tightened supervision over food safety in schools as a new school semester begins.

Students have lunch at No.11 Primary School of Tongren City in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (File Photo: Xinhua)

Schools nationwide are required to conduct self-inspections of food safety and take immediate measures to rectify potential problems, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Education and the State Administration for Market Regulation.

Meanwhile, local market regulators should target school canteens, school meal providers, as well as grocery stores and restaurants near schools, and strengthen oversight in terms of food storage and processing, and cleaning and sanitizing of serving utensils, it said.