Quick, I need a hit of BBQ sauce

I genuinely thought I'd heard it all but this is pretty hard to top. The Shanghai Daily newspaper reported today that an additive that enhances the flavor of braised pork is causing people to become addicted to the dish .

The Shanghai Food and Drug Administration yesterday warned local restaurants after it was found that the additive was also available here in Shanghai. The additive, dubbed "King of Meat" can be found in many food markets and is used by many restaurant chefs who know the secret of the taste and don't eat the pork dish themselves - isnt that reassuring.

The Shanghai FDA said yesterday the three relevant ingredients in the composition of the additive were legal synthetic flavors that can be used in all kinds of food, except raw meat in which the use of the additives is banned.

Makes me feel all warm and cosy to know the law says the additives can't be used to cover food that has gone bad or to make counterfeit products. The Shanghai FDA said local restaurants should avoid using or use a minimum amount of the additive while cooking pork with brown sauce and other dishes.

The additive is made of chemical synthetics that contain chlorine and it can irritate the human gastronomic and digestive systems, Mo Baoqing, a professor of Nanjing Medical University, told the newspaper.

What is so spooky about eating in this country is that China has no clear provisions for dealing with such synthetic additives - that's why we've made a conscious decision to stay away from street food and other local dives.

The "King of Meat" mixture is also being sold online. Online vendors boast the special additive is made of "natural spices" and is widely used across the country. "It should be safe as long as you don't put too much of it into dishes," said a Shenzhen-based vendor. "We don't know what the additive is made of, but we haven't heard of anyone being poisoned or harmed by it." Online stores said the additive can be used in almost all kinds of meat products to enhance their taste and get rid of any bad smell. A 500ml bottle costs about 70 yuan (US$11), and most buyers were restaurant owners, the vendor said.

I'll remember that the next time we eat out.