What's not for dinner tonight

Today was not a good day for food in Shanghai according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper.

First we have the discovery that a parasite that can cause epilepsy and lead to paralysis has been found in batches of (what we all love to eat here) eels imported from Indonesia and the Philippines. The government tested 26 samples of eels and 14 contained the parasite gnathostoma spinigerum. To make matters worse of course imported eels are prefered to the homegrown version because it's been known for a long time that the home grown eels are injected with birth control medication to stimulate their growth.

On the next page of the newspaper it was noted three food company executives were arrested yesterday because their company had been recycling expired steamed buns by adding chemical additives and coloring to make them appear fresh. So much for eating steamed buns off the street.

Finally I leave you with the problem of bursting watermelons which actually was covered today by the New York Daily News. Seems a group of 20 farmers in Jiangsu Province used a growth accelerator for the first time during a period of heavy rains. That caused hundreds of melons to pop like balloons, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The chemical is legal in the US. It's just possible no one told these farmers exactly how to use it.

Anyways, Theresa and I are looking forward to dinner tonight. Steaks from Australia and salad from an organic grower just outside Shanghai - no chemicals, growth hormones or any weird stuff - we hope :)