SHANGHAI -- Nestle, the world's largest food group, says that production at its only China coffee plant in southern Guangdong province was suspended due to flooding.

"Production will only be started after all the rigorous hygiene and production requirements are restored," the Swiss company said in an e-mailed statement.

Flooding this month in China's industrial hub Guangdong has killed more than 160 people across the region.

Nestle said it had evacuated its staff at the coffee plant in Guangdong's Dongguan and no employees were hurt

By Samuel Shen of Reuters