BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top leadership has called for more efforts to ensure food safety, noting there are still many problems despite an improving food safety situation.

More efforts should be made to ensure food safety for the public, said President Xi Jinping in his latest instructions on the country's food safety work.

The president called for the most rigorous standards, the most stringent regulation, the most severe punishment and the most serious accountability for improving food safety control.

He stressed administration under the law, enhancement of work at the grassroots level and professionalism of food safety inspectors, and demanded a comprehensive food safety system from farm to table.

Premier Li Keqiang said in recent instructions that food safety is an important hallmark for building an all-round moderately prosperous society and should be given a more prominent position this year.