More than 8,324 Chinese suffered food poisoning in 2011, and 137 of them died, according to the Ministry of Health.

The counts were based on four quarterly reports, with the latest one posted on the ministry's website Thursday.

Compared with the ministry's 2010 annual report on food poisoning, the number of sickened people increased 13 percent year-on-year while the number of deaths dropped 26 percent.

In addition, a total of 189 food poisoning cases were recorded last year, registering a 14 percent drop from that of 2010.

The Q3 period (from July to September), when 39 percent of the food poisoning cases and 45 percent of related deaths occurred, was the most dangerous quarter last year.