Zhao Baoqing, first commercial secretary of the Chinese Embassy, yesterday at a press conference said that all types of food would be examined, with at least one box checked from each shipment -- confirmed by a government seal attached to a package or shipment, according to reports in US media.

The measure is the latest attempt by Chinese authorities to bolster the safety of its products shipped abroad. Recently a series of health scares and contamination problems with exported goods have led to widespread concerns about the safety of Chinese food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

A raft of regulations have been implemented and are planned for later this year in an attempt to tighten up the national food manufacturing industry.

Last month the Chinese food regulator, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, announced that half of small processors would close amid fears that smaller unregulated operations accounted for many of the food safety problems.

Zhao said China's food safety needed improving, but that the vast majority of the exports to US were of high quality.

"During 2004 to 2006, more than 99 per cent of Chinese food to the US met the US safety and quality standards," he said.

The former food safety official said the Chinese government has been actively cooperating with other countries to seek solutions and called for global cooperation to improve food safety and product quality.