So you like Chinese food?

[Atlas]

Chopped pork-flavored cardboard is being sold as food in Beijing



BEIJING, China (AP) -- Chopped cardboard, softened with an industrial chemical and flavored with fatty pork and powdered seasoning, is a main ingredient in batches of steamed buns sold in one Beijing neighborhood, state television said.


Steamed buns sold in Beijing contain 60 percent cardboard, a report on China Central Television said.

The report, aired late Wednesday on China Central Television, highlights the country's problems with food safety despite government efforts to improve the situation.

Countless small, often illegally run operations exist across China and make money cutting corners by using inexpensive ingredients or unsavory substitutes. They are almost impossible to regulate.

State TV's undercover investigation features the shirtless, shorts-clad maker of the buns, called baozi, explaining the contents of the product sold in Beijing's sprawling Chaoyang district.

Baozi are a common snack in China, with an outer skin made from wheat or rice flour and a filling of sliced pork. Cooked by steaming in immense bamboo baskets, they are similar to but usually much bigger than the dumplings found on dim sum menus familiar to many Americans.

The hidden camera follows the man, whose face is not shown, into a ramshackle building where steamers are filled with the fluffy white buns, traditionally stuffed with minced pork.

The surroundings are filthy, with water puddles and piles of old furniture and cardboard on the ground.

"What's in the recipe?" the reporter asks. "Six to four," the man says.

"You mean 60 percent cardboard? What is the other 40 percent?" asks the reporter. "Fatty meat," the man replies.

The bun maker and his assistants then give a demonstration on how the product is made.

Squares of cardboard picked from the ground are first soaked to a pulp in a plastic basin of caustic soda -- a chemical base commonly used in manufacturing paper and soap -- then chopped into tiny morsels with a cleaver. Fatty pork and powdered seasoning are stirred in.

Soon, steaming servings of the buns appear on the screen. The reporter takes a bite.

"This baozi filling is kind of tough. Not much taste," he says. "Can other people taste the difference?"

"Most people can't. It fools the average person," the maker says. "I don't eat them myself."

The police eventually showed up and shut down the operation.

[Los Broncos]

I love orange chicken.

[Hogan11]

General Tso's Cardboard

[CBF1]

Mmmmm chinese food.

Peking duck, hunan lamb and pork fried rice are my favorites :thumbs:

I am now officially hungry

[Kaylore]

I love orange chicken.

Rep. ALL DAY!

[elsid13]

Dude had some great chinese today.

[400HZ]

Somebody from Tijuana told me they make tomales out of cat. I believe him.

[Rock Chalk]

Whats the difference between cardboard and tofu?

As for orange chicken, bleh. General Tso's chicken and Mongolian beef both topped with gobs of Thai Peppers, thats good stuff.

[Sodak]

The Mexicans I worked with in College regulary joked about selling "Tacos de burro, or Tacos de perro" to Gringos.

Haha, very funny... Pepe. Pinche Cabron.

[SureShot]

I have been looking for a way to get more cardboard into my diet.Thanks!

[Los Broncos]

Whats the difference between cardboard and tofu?

As for orange chicken, bleh. General Tso's chicken and Mongolian beef both topped with gobs of Thai Peppers, thats good stuff.

I just love that sweet taste.

[DenverBrit]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 10:36 GMT 11:36 UK


China food safety head executed

Zheng Xiaoyu headed the food and drug agency for seven years
The former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, has been executed for corruption, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports.

He was convicted of taking 6.5m yuan ($850,000; £425,400) in bribes and of dereliction of duty at a trial in May.

The bribes were linked to sub-standard medicines, blamed for several deaths.

China has been criticised over a number of recent cases involving tainted goods, and correspondents say Zheng had become a symbol of the crisis.

Zheng had appealed against his sentence, arguing that it was "too severe" and saying he had confessed his crimes and co-operated with police.

But his appeal, heard in mid-June, was rejected shortly afterwards.

Toxic chemicals

Zheng, who headed the administration from 1998 to 2005, was found guilty of accepting bribes from firms to register their products without making them undergo the necessary checks.

Following his sacking, the Chinese government announced an urgent review of about 170,000 medical licences that were awarded during his tenure at the agency.


CHINESE FOOD SCARES
May 2007 China probes reports that contaminated toothpaste was sent to the Americas
March 2007 Melamine is found in wheat gluten exports from China for use in pet food, prompting a recall of at least 100 pet food brands
Nov 2006 A dye farmers fed to ducks to make their eggs look fresher is found to contain cancer-causing properties, and 5,000 ducks are culled
August 2006 About 40 people in Beijing contract meningitis after eating partially cooked snails at a chain of restaurants

Tackling tainted food crisis

Zheng's sentence was seen as unusually harsh for such a senior figure, but the BBC's Dan Griffiths in Beijing says the government hopes the execution shows it is getting to grips with the crisis.

However, food and drug safety standards vary widely across the country and reform will be a major challenge, our correspondent adds.

At a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, the food and drug agency admitted it had a huge job ahead to improve its supervision of safety standards.

"As a developing country, China's food and drug supervision work began late and its foundations are weak," spokeswoman Yan Jiangying said.

"Therefore, the food and drug safety situation is not something we can be optimistic about."

She said Zheng Xiaoyu's case had "brought shame" on the department, adding that anyone who abused their power would be punished.

Chinese officials have already acknowledged that the country could face social unrest and a tarnished image abroad unless improvements are made.

Dozens of people have died in China because of poor quality or fake food and drugs, sparking widespread international fears about the safety of Chinese exports.

Thirteen babies died of malnutrition in 2005 after being fed powdered milk that had no nutritional value.

US inspectors have blamed exported Chinese pet food ingredients, contaminated with melamine, for the deaths of cats and dogs in North America.

And they recently halted shipments of toothpaste from China to investigate reports that they may be contaminated with toxic chemicals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6286698.stm

[Dr.5280]

Panda King?

[Bronco Bob]

Whats the difference between cardboard and tofu?

As for orange chicken, bleh. General Tso's chicken and Mongolian beef both topped with gobs of Thai Peppers, thats good stuff.

Oh yeah, Mongolian Beef, I love that stuff.

[listopencil]

...has been executed for corruption


In some ways China is way ahead of us...

[Paladin]

Cardboard pork? Sounds a bit like Taco Bell tacos to me.......

[dragondawg]

yah i just like orange chicken but overall chinese food if bad for you, high in every bad category. last time i had chinese, and the next day i had appendicities and had to have an appdendectomy

[Cool Breeze]

Need more ruffage, eat chinese...

[shakenbake]

mmmmm chinese food.... Oh wait I am eating it everyday. I wonder if we are getting any cardboard here in shanghai anytime soon.

[broncocalijohn]

I just love that sweet taste.

Big deal, Papa John's pizza taste like the cardboard it was served in! Lynch and any Orange COuntians want to Mongals (that is the art of filling your bowl at a Mongolian BBQ), you let me know when you can come down to Lake Forest to show you how to eat a sheat lot of 4 types of meat and vegies on one freaking bowl full. Ex Dues Shanahan from LH can come over too. Mongolian BBQ is the best! And never get All You Can eat. I can show you in 10 simple steps how to master the one full bowl.

BTW: Can you foodjack a food thread? Just wondering.

[atomicbloke]

I love dimsum. yum.

http://www.asia2002.gov.hk/press/pict/large/24.jpg

And Hong Kong's the best place for it.

http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Places/HongKongByNight_3.jpg

[Atlas]

Big deal, Papa John's pizza taste like the cardboard it was served in! Lynch and any Orange COuntians want to Mongals (that is the art of filling your bowl at a Mongolian BBQ), you let me know when you can come down to Lake Forest to show you how to eat a sheat lot of 4 types of meat and vegies on one freaking bowl full. Ex Dues Shanahan from LH can come over too. Mongolian BBQ is the best! And never get All You Can eat. I can show you in 10 simple steps how to master the one full bowl.

BTW: Can you foodjack a food thread? Just wondering.

The Mongolian Grill is awesome. I wish we had one down here. That is some good ****.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Japanese Food > Chinese Food.

[Paladin]

Do I like Chinese food?



Not if it comes from China.......

[broncosteven]

Need more ruffage, eat chinese...

Everyone over 30 needs more Fiber in their diet! This may be the answer, the chemicals they use to render the cardboard is what scares me!

[Traveler]

No Chinese for me!

I wish I could some attach this MS Word Document I received years ago. You'd think again about eating Chinese food.

[CHANGSTER]

Anyone have the nutritional value on cardboard? I think I have a new idea for a diet product.

[Txdonk]

Japanese Food > Chinese Food.


If you are referring to the cooked Japanese food, they are heavily influenced by Chinese food anyway. Sushi on the other hand, is a different story.

[DenverBrit]

In some ways China is way ahead of us...


Following China's lead would empty most of the Congress and Senate.

[TiZZaH]

Korean food > Japanese food > Chinese food

[TexanBob]

http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-bad-fortune-cookie-0yG.jpg

[cabronco]

Now there's an apparent shortage of cardboard over there, thus having to ship items to S.F. and others via plastic bags from Chinamart. Aint that a beech.

[Atwater His Ass]

i like the triple delight myself.

and the mongolian grill is great as well.

[atomicbloke]

Korean food > Japanese food > Chinese food

Thai food > Indian food > Korean food > Chinese food > Japanese food.

Only my personal preference of course, not an universal fact.

[rubaiyat]

It's interesting to watch a country become an industrial nation from the viewpoint of an already industrialized nation and the media capabilities we now have.

It's almost like watching the inevitable progression of the Industrial Revolution happening all over again.

I mean it ain't like it was that long ago that the Jungle had to be made for people to get outraged about what THEY were eating.

Same crap...but sadly with the technology and infrastructure now, much more devastating consequences...see British smokestacks of the 1800's vs the huge ecological collapses of China's interior.

[Los Broncos]

Next time you open a fortune cookie and read it, put the words "in bed" after it, it will make you laugh.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Just had some garlic shrimp. Along this line...never eat Chinese with chicken in it...lots of stuff tastes like chicken. ;D

[broncosteven]

Sushi Rocks, No eel for me though.

I don't like Salmon cooked but love it raw. Whitefish is good and nothing is like a Tuna Hand Roll! Ummmmmmmm

Never had Cooked Japanese food.

[Kaylore]

Sushi Rocks, No eel for me though.

You should be shot.

[DenverBrit]

Sushi Rocks, No eel for me though.

I don't like Salmon cooked but love it raw. Whitefish is good and nothing is like a Tuna Hand Roll! Ummmmmmmm

Never had Cooked Japanese food.

Oddly enough, I used to enjoy it cooked, but much prefer it as Sushi too.

[Atlas]

Sushi Rocks, No eel for me though.

I don't like Salmon cooked but love it raw. Whitefish is good and nothing is like a Tuna Hand Roll! Ummmmmmmm

Never had Cooked Japanese food.

eel and sea urchin are the worst.

[Meck77]

Sushi on the other hand, is a different story.


Now you are talking. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. Throw me some raw fish and rice instead.:thumbsup:

[broncosteven]

You should be shot.

Eel is just nasty. I wouldn't eat snake either...unless I was with Bear Grilys on Man vs Nature or what ever his show is called.

[Los Broncos]

This weekend my buddy made some Ceviche.

Man i was in heaven.

Warm up some corn tortillas, slap some fish on there with some hot sauce and Pacifico, hmmmmm