Overuse of food additives and microbial contamination were the primary food safety problems facing China last year, according to the top food authority.

The two together accounted for more than 64 percent of all food safety problems found in random inspections by the China Food and Drug Administration, Yan Jiangying, spokeswoman for the administration, announced on Monday.

"The overall situation remained stable compared with the previous year, as nearly 97 percent of the food products inspected last year were up to standard," Yan said.