Govt takes aim at poor quality snacks sold near schools

China will launch a large-scale campaign to crack down on poor-quality inexpensive snacks sold in shops near schools, the newly established State Administration for Market Regulation said on Tuesday.

Food authorities will close all illegal factories that produce substandard snacks, such as the so-called 8-cent snacks, including gluten spice strips (latiao), dried tofu, ice treats and various soft drinks, according to a notice on the administration's website.

The new regulatory administration now oversees the former China Food and Drug Administration.