It's vitamin C tablets from here on in

The market watch dog here in Shanghai has confiscated nearly 150 kilograms of oranges from a grocery in the city's northeast Yangpu District following claims that the seller had added colouring agents to make the oranges look fresher and more attractive.

The "coloured oranges" were discovered when a woman who purchased the oranges washed the fruit and realized its colour changed. Not only did the color change but the water used to wash the fruit turned red and stained her fingers.

Of course the owner of the fruit shop proclaimed his innocence saying the fruit arrived at his store like that. The oranges originated from a fruit wholesaler just outside the city. Calls by the Shanghai Daily were not returned other than they were told the boss was away.

"It is accepted policy here in China to cover fruit with edible wax to polish and enhance their appearance" said Yuan Yaxiang, head of the Shanghai Fruit Association so it's no wonder more creative sellers also add their own touch once in a while.

Over the past year and a half, I've written about phosphorescent pork, urine soaked eggs, fake eggs, harmful flavor enhancers, exploding watermelons, pesticide laced apples, cabbage soaked in formaldehyde, dog a la carte and now coloured oranges. The good news is we are still very healthy and eating very well - just carefully.

What is really ironic is that Shanghai is home to some of the best restaurants we have ever dined in. The food is wonderful and the ambiance surpasses many of the most popular restaurants in Toronto or Montreal - all of this so very weird which makes Shanghai an adventure not to be missed.