BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Industrial and commercial authorities across China investigated about 76,500 fake food cases in 2008, which involved 274 million yuan (about 40.3 million U.S. dollars) in value, according to a high-level meeting on consumption held Saturday.

    Ma Yong, a senior official with the National Food Industry Association, said the major cause of China's food safety problem was the use of illicit substances.

Officers from local commerce administration examine commodities at a market in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi province, March 15, 2009. Lots of events to mark the World Consumer Rights Day were held across China on Sunday.

With the theme of "integrity, consumption and development", the meeting was joined by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and China Consumers' Association.

    To better deal with the food problem, China adopted the Food Safety Law on Feb. 28, which will go into effect on June 1.

    The law has been widely seen as a new push to improve food safety in the country through stricter monitoring and supervision, tougher safety standards, recall of substandard products and severe punishment on offenders.

Officers (L) from local commerce administration answer people's questions during an event to mark the World Consumer Rights Day in Beijing March 15, 2009. Lots of such events were held across China on Sunday