Beijing, Aug 13 (TIWN) China has launched a campaign titled "Clean Plate", in an effort to reduce food waste after President Xi Jinping called the amount "shocking and distressing", the media reported on Thursday.

The "Clean Plate Campaign" comes after Mr Xi highlighted that Covid-19 had "sounded the alarm" on food waste.

He added that China had to "maintain a sense of crisis about food security".

It also comes after weeks of mass flooding across southern China which left farms wrecked and ruined tons of produce.

Chinese state news agency the Global Times sought to downplay what it called "media hype" that China was headed for a food crisis, made worse by the epidemic.

State TV also criticised livestreamers who filmed themselves eating large amounts of food.