White mice will test food to ensure its safety for 2008 Olympic Games athletes, say Beijing officials.

He told a meeting that mice would develop adverse reactions to poisoning within 17 hours, sooner than test methods like bacteria cultures.

Most of the food for athletes would be Western style, complemented by Chinese dishes, said Zhen Xiaozhen, of the medical team of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, at the meeting on hygiene safety for the games.

Zhao said all the food would be securely stored, and all food arriving at the Olympic restaurants would be recorded by the control headquarters.

Moreover, the food delivery would be approved by public security and quarantine departments and transported by special vehicles and staff.

The vehicles would be equipped with global positioning systems and food packages would be secured during transportation, said an official with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Food storage areas would be fitted with alarms, video cameras and fire controls, and kitchens guarded around the clock.

Health inspectors would receive training in management and inspection techniques of Western food from this month, said Liang Jin with the inspection bureau.