China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: bugeye on July 19, 2010, 08:29:29 am
-
I have read (do not recall where) that raw fruit and veg, especially from markets is to be avoided. I am mostly vegetarian and really enjoy fruit and herb smoothies most mornings.
What is true and what is myth regarding the safety of these foods in southern China?
-
It is very simple really , think like an Aussie , get a pretty lady on each arm , tell them what you want to buy and off you go , even if you were staying in a hotel , one of the reception girls would find a friend who speaks English to go shopping with you , they always know where to shop for clean produce and generally they wash everything in cool but boiled water, or bottled water then dry prior to eating , regards Robert and Sujuan.
-
after living here for a year full time this time around you will find the freshest fruits and vegetables at the
local vegetable markets. just wash them thoroughly when you get them home.
we stay away from the single sellers on the streets as those arent usually that good or fresh
just find a local farmers vegetable market by were your staying and you will be fine.
and dont forget a little haggling there.
also watch out for the walnut sellers on the street for some reason there will be a time were you
cannot open without a sledge hammer not sure were they get those bad crops from.
-
Have to agree with all these suggestions. Wendy and I went and got some fruit (bananas, pineapple and grapes) just to have something in the hotel room. The bananas are the same as anywhere come in their own protective jacket (just watch the skin when you buy) same with pineapple. The grapes Wendy washes in hot water that has boiled in the kettle in the room. Then she peels them and feeds them to me but I degress. Most of the supermarkets I have seen seem to have pretty good produce. Just shop around. Then again people no matter where they are do not intentionally eat bad food.
-
After my second trip I haven't had a problem yet with fruits and vegetables. Wash, Wash, Wash. Peggy is so clean conscious I really didn't have to worry much. From my limited experience the woman will make sure everything you get is safe and healthy.
-
Makes you wonder whether anything is safe to eat or drink in China!!
BEIJING - China's State Council, or Cabinet, has ordered authorities to intensify their crackdown on the sale and use of illegal cooking oil in restaurants, according to a circular made public Monday.
The State Council ordered central government departments and local governments to carry out special campaigns to eradicate "gutter oil," which posed "serious food safety risk" to the public, said the circular issued by the General Office of the State Council.
Related readings:
China intensifies crackdown on illegal cooking oil Illegal cooking oil made from kitchen waste
"Gutter oil" is usually made from discarded kitchen waste that has been refined and was once reportedly commonly used by small restaurants.
Although it looks clean, it actually contains toxic substances, including "aflatoxin," which can cause cancer.
The campaign would target places where "gutter oil" was produced.
It would also focus on small restaurants, construction sites and school canteens.
Catering establishments which use the illegal oil could face punishments ranging from suspension of operations to revocation of their business licenses.
The food safety commission under the State Council would analyze the results of the campaign from September to October this year to see whether it had been effective, according to the circular.
As a preventive measure, the State Council also called for reinforced efforts to create standardized collection of kitchen waste.
-
Thanks everyone for your replies.
Shaun: Sadly, I do not have a gf waiting for me in China.
RobertB: I am not sure how I would go about that, as I am not as suave and debonair as you. ;) I will however talk to the receptionists where I stay.
ttwjr32: Thanks for the sage advice on the walnuts. I would likely have fallen for that as I like walnuts.
JasonB: I hear you are from south of the QLD border. That's ok, I'll forgive you ;) . And thanks for the mental images of your 'grape' times ::)
Londoner: Thanks for scaring me.
-
that is one of the reasons i wont eat from the roadside vendors that you see so many people eating at.
a vast majority of them use this oil along with the small bread and cake shops scattered around the city.
it is very cost effective for them to use this oil.
living in China is full of some interesting things. like the package milk products. they recently found out that
all the contaminated stuff was not destroyed but stored and has been re sold by the companies??? just never
ceases to amaze me what they do here for the almighty rmb.
i will just drink the pastuerized milk here sold in supermarkets. 9.80 rmb for a quart of it. little expensive for
China but at least safe
-
Bugeye,
I don't think it will take too long to find some one to help you do your shopping! A helpless white guy in a Chinese supermarket you'll have to beat them back with a stick! I usually go shopping with my wife, you know the ritual of pushing the shopping cart round while she fill it up. No one talks to me but if I'm in there alone,completely different story. It's all smiles and everyone wants to say hello. Like every one has said wash your veggies and your be fine. The standard of fresh products here is very good, well where I live it is and the range is huge.
-
also watch out for the walnut sellers on the street for some reason there will be a time were you
cannot open without a sledge hammer not sure were they get those bad crops from.
Ted i do not know wher your coming from here. Even my wife has no trouble getting to grips with my 'walnuts'.
Willy
-
was talking about walnuts not peanuts lol!!!!
-
was talking about walnuts not peanuts lol!!!!
Ted...
Has Youyoun been telling you family secrets..hahahaha ;D ;D
-
We have to wash all the veggies and fruit in China, but what i cannot get my head around i that we wash them with undrinkable water and suddenly they are fine to eat??
Anyone care to explain that to me?
-
We have to wash all the veggies and fruit in China, but what i cannot get my head around i that we wash them with undrinkable water and suddenly they are fine to eat??
Anyone cfare to explain that to me?
Irishman,
Robert says to use boiled water to wash the fruits and vegetables off. If you are using plain tap water then you may be taking a chance. If you have been using plain tap water there and not had any problem then thank your lucky stars. I would boil the water first. After it cools off then use it for washing any fruits and vegetables.
Dave C
-
I don't know if Peggy washed the fruit in tap water or boiled water. There were a few times my last trip I would forget when brushing my teeth not to use the tap water and would rinse my mouth out. Never got sick.
My spelling was way off. Gee!!!! Must have been talking with Peggy.
-
I did the same thing Shaun. I brushed my teeth with tap water and so did Nina. That was mostly in Zhongshan mind you, smaller cities would probably be a different story.
-
my wife washes the vegetables with tap water also. but first she lets them soak for a little while then she washes them.
i have always brushed my teeth with the use of tap water and never have i gotten sick ::)
-
Seems like someone recommended that you used bottle water when brushing teeth. I had no ill effect so next time I'll use tap water.
You know come to think of it I think someone suggested eating yogurt every day and yet someone else suggested that you put WD-40 on your skin. Hmmm...... :o Oh wait!!! That was me... Never mind.
-
i think everyone says to use bottled water for brushing but ive had no ill effects with tap and
still have all my teeth
-
Guy's , only one way to be obsolutely sure .. is brush your Teeth before your Trip there and then again when coming back .
Washing Veggis at my In-Laws house , as I observed is always done with boiled water that is saved in big Bowl on side of Sink . They use Tab only for washing hands and showering of course .
-
that would be a long time inbetween brushings though :o
-
Bring lots of chewing gum then.
-
Naa... Just leave your teeth at home and you don't have a reason to brush.
-
well lets see will be 54, dont use pills, have all my teeth, and have all my hair, so far so good :o
-
Guy's , only one way to be obsolutely sure .. is brush your Teeth before your Trip there and then again when coming back .
Washing Veggis at my In-Laws house , as I observed is always done with boiled water that is saved in big Bowl on side of Sink . They use Tab only for washing hands and showering of course .
I hope my wife gets a visa soon so I can start brushing my own teeth again. She washes them brushes them rinses them off then dries them real good. Pop them back in never have gotten sick.
-
Before I departed for Nanning (Southern China) my local health department warned about only drinking bottled water and to brush my teeth with it also. They also said I should only eat at the hotel's or established restaurants.
Well it was so hot in Nanning(right by Vietnam)-I drank any and all water offered-brushed my teeth with tap water-Ate rat, bat, snake. some small bird (do not know) and probably some disgusting things as well, from street vendors and back alley eateries. I did not get diarrhea until I reached Southern Los Angeles where I ate a undercooked hamburger :o
-
I only got Diarrhea ones on my four Trips . I don't know what caused it , but as hard it is to find a Public WC when your Sightseeing and when one does it's a darn Squat Toilet . This was my first incounter with one of those and having the " get me to one now " is no fun . Quite embarrassing with NO practise . So I missed a little ! ??? But again , I also ate from the Mom and Pop eateries , brushed teeth with facet water on all Trips . It must of been some Western Restaurant where it happened ?
-
I would say it had to be the western restaurant Arnold -it seemed I was in better health in China than in the States (I think we eat to much meat here in the States) at least I do.
The rice,noodles, fruit, and vegetables with every meal made me feel better than I have in years,and the fact that Ping would feed me or at least keep filling my plate up was a real ego boost as well.
As far as the squat toilets were concerned-I never defecated in one, it was hard enough just trying to squat when I urinated in them ;D just kept peeing on the wall watching it roll back into the toilet ;)
-
I have type 2 diabetes. At one point I was taking 6 different pills and 2 shots of insulin everyday. I lost 120 pounds and no longer needed the shots and a couple of the pills. And now since moving to China I take only 1 tiny pill everyday and the blood sugar is perfect. My doc says it is purely the food I eat here is so much better for the body.
But now the water I have not actually just drank a big glass full from the tap but I am not as cautious as many and have never gotten sick from it. Everyone is different some have a little more delicate system than others. And in different parts of the country the water is worse than others. A lot of factors can be involved.
-
Well I was told that the water here in Zhucheng is ok to drink and use...HOWEVER, I will still be using bottled water when needing to brush my teeth or drink !!!
-
Topic drift is a fun thing to watch.
Initially this was about fruit and veg and what is safe etc. Now the conversation is on brushing teeth in tapwater.
I havent visited the site in a while. It made me smile when I looked at the thread as it took on a life of its own.
-
Topic drift is a fun thing to watch.
Initially this was about fruit and veg and what is safe etc. Now the conversation is on brushing teeth in tapwater.
I havent visited the site in a while. It made me smile when I looked at the thread as it took on a life of its own.
It was a good topic to start. Ted posted to it some time last July. I talk to people about this kind of stuff all the time so fired it back up again a few weeks ago.
People always wanting to know about the water and the fresh produce it should live on for a long time.
Just like the site. A lot of guys think it's very easy to marry a woman from another part of the world. And then they come here reality sets in and for many they soon give up on it. This is a journey that is defiantly not a good thing for everyone.
And it worse than the military, Hurry up and wait takes on a whole new meaning.
-
I was going to go to southern China at the end of August. I decided on gut feeling not to go. A week later, the floods hit where I was heading for, so I am glad I ended up not going. It will probably be next year before I actually visit now.