China will monitor the production and sale of food made for children and those made for the rural population, China's health watchdog told Xinhua on Friday.

"We mean to strengthen the protection of this group," a spokesman of the health ministry said on condition of anonymity.

The ministry will punish producers who cheat peasants by making inferior food products, the spokesman said.

It will focus on baby food and food produced for schools, he said.

It will also better regulate foodstuffs that promise to reduce blood sugar, weight loss, and boost energy, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2006)