BEIJING -- The Ministry of Public Security on Friday announced a new crackdown on food safety crimes amid the approach of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Food safety crimes remain rampant and food risks are expected to surge during the Spring Festival holiday in February, according to Huang Ming, vice minister of public security.

The ministry will focus on cases involving quality problems among cooking oil, spirits, meat and folk specialty foods during the holiday in order to ensure food safety, said Huang.

The ministry will also join hands with authorities of food safety, agriculture and quality control to cut off sources of food safety risks stemming from agricultural and animal husbandry practices by eliminating the use of illegal additives in pesticides and feed.

Huang also urged local authorities to improve relevant policies and fix loopholes in daily food safety supervision.