Wu Yi, a Chinese vice-premier, has been appointed to head a top-level leadership group to address the issue of food and product safety in the wake of almost daily revelations about the hazards of locally made goods.

The appointment of Ms Wu, who has long been used by the government as a troubleshooter in trade disputes and health issues, is both a sign of the seriousness of the issue and a convenient way to co-ordinate a response across the government.