BEIJING - A leading group office under the Ministry of Education on Tuesday required the regions and schools which carry out the nutrition improvement program to strengthen food safety supervision as the winter comes.

The office, which guides the program to improve nutrition for rural students in compulsory education, asked more school canteens to open their kitchens for public supervision, improve sanitation in canteens and resolutely prevent food poisoning.

School canteens should offer meals with balanced nutrition for the students according to different seasons, said the office, adding that the canteens should manage to guarantee food quality as prices rise.

The office also demanded strict implementation of the regulation which requires school officials to accompany students to school meals as a way of ensuring food safety.