NINETY-FIVE percent of China's catering establishments will have a certified hygiene grade by the end of this year as part of a nationwide effort to improve food safety, a senior health official has said.

Health departments would issue four grades from "A" for the best restaurants to "D" for the worst in accordance with their basic hygiene facilities, said Vice Health Minister Chen Xiaohong on Wednesday. Health departments would strengthen supervision of restaurants with low grades and advise the public against eating in such restaurants, Chen said.