There were 97 reported mass cases of food poisoning in China in the second quarter, down 35.8 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total of 3,357 people were affected in these cases, down 4.2 percent, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Food poisoning killed 29 people, down 58.6 percent year-on-year.

The ministry said that there was a 50.9 percent rise in the number of household food poisoning cases. These included two rural wedding banquets that affected 199 and 274 people, respectively.

The ministry ordered enhancing monitoring and prevention efforts in Olympics venues and earthquake and flood-hit zones.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30,2008)