China Watch Blog

China Watch Blog has learnt that Shanghai customs seized more than 55 tons of fake Jamila-brand seasonings on route to Africa at the city’s Yangshan Port.

Yangshan port

The compound condiments, worth US$102,000, had shabby packaging and claimed to be products from Anhui Qiangwang Flavoring Food Co Ltd, which owns the Jamila brand.

Customs officials suspected the goods were counterfeits after discovering impurities in them on March 21. They contacted the brand owner and confirmed these were fakes.

Jamila has enjoyed a good reputation in African and Southeast Asian markets for nine years with its popular chicken and shrimp bouillon cubes, condiments, and chicken powder.

China Watch Blog has learnt that Chinese police have detained 53 people for their roles in the ongoing toxic gelatin scandal, the Ministry of Public Security said.

They also shut 10 gelatin or capsule manufacturers and seized more than 230 tons of industrial gelatin, a top ministry official was quoted saying in a nationwide teleconference as reported by a People’s Daily report.

Deputy Minister Huang Ming said the ministry will continue to monitor cases in Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei and Jiangxi provinces to determine where toxic gelatin had been sent.

Industrial gelatin manufactured in Hebei Province and supplied to drug capsule producers may also have been used in food, the Beijing Times reported.

China Watch Blog reports that someone sent this article for our readers to warn us that toxins are everywhere, so “detoxification” is a very important defense mechanism in terms of healthcare. A medical professional should be consulted prior to use of drugs or undertaking of dietary programs, and by taking such steps will lead to Happiness too.

People nowadays face lots of pressures in balancing their life and they are easily attracted by to various types of unhealthy food that are high-fat, high cholesterol, high-sodium, low-fiber, low-carbohydrate, etc. Consequently, they will weaken the immune system opening the door for various chronic diseases. With the advancement of medicine, many rely heavily on drugs and are less conscious about the fundamentals of diet.

Detoxification is to make use of the healthy food to remove the toxins from the body. Pesticides on food are common and when they enter and aggregate in our body, it is not hard to imagine how harmful they are.

To maintain a healthy body, we need to eliminate toxins from inside. Many kinds of food have detoxifying effects in general. There are many ways in detoxification. The high fiber, low fat, low sugar, low salt approach is most popular. Sweet potato, brown rice, fresh fruits and vegetables are good candidates as they are effective in toxin removal, highly acceptable, safe, economical, and easy to find.

The following are the top 10 food selected for detoxification purposes.

1. Seaweed: – Seaweed is rich in polysaccharides and highly alkaline. It can neutralize gastric acid, promote detoxification, prevent fat accumulation and help metabolism. Kelp is rich in alginate, mannitol, protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, iodine, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other elements. Especially with iodine, it is very useful in treating goiter and other diseases caused by iodine deficiency. It contains protein and eight amino acids. Iodine when absorbed can accelerate detoxification. In addition, it can lower blood pressure and prevent arteriosclerosis.

2. Onion: – Onions can promote gastrointestinal movement and strengthen digestion. Its sulfur combined with protein benefits the liver most, thus contributing to detoxification. The “warm” property of onion enables easy sweating and rowing edema. Sulfur compounds can rid the pesticides and other undesirable substances.

Recommendation: Add raw onions in a sandwich; add diced onions to soup with broccoli, carrots, celery and other high-fiber vegetables in order to break down toxins accumulated in the body and to help bowel movement.

3. Green bean: – Green bean is used in a variety of drugs by Chinese medicine professionals. Regular consumption of green bean can help getting rid of toxins from the body. It regulates metabolism. Green bean soup is best for detoxification and maintenance of healthy skin. With honey together, its detoxification effect is even better. Many people often eat bean sprouts (from green beans), because it is affordable. But very few know that green bean sprouts also has high medicinal value.

Recommendation: barley and green bean soup, blend green beans with boiled soy milk (or milk).

4. Sweet potato: – Due to the recent trend with concerns in health, the demand for sweet potatoes is up year after year with supply of sweet potatoes in different color and flavor. Sweet potato contains digestible fiber which can facilitate bowel movement. In addition, it can also neutralize acid accumulated in the body. Furthermore, sweet potato’s collagen and mucus polysaccharides can prevent arterial sclerosis. It also plays an important role in keeping vessels elastic and in excreting excess cholesterol.

Recommendation: baked sweet potato with skins. For health purposes, timing is important. The rule of thumb is to eat it early in the morning (e.g., 6:30 a.m.) before normal bowel movement time. This is to maximize intestinal absorption of sweet potatoes. This is particularly necessary for patients with serious illness wanting to use sweet potatoes for cure. Eating sweet potatoes after 12:00 is not desirable because the metabolism will slow down in the afternoon. On the contrary, sugar from sweet potatoes will remain unprocessed.

5. Cauliflower Cauliflowers (white) and broccolis (green) are cruciferous. Their antioxidant properties could have been proven with medical evidence that they can help to fight cancer. They also helps to prevent edema, increase the discharge of urine and to enhance the immune system. Cauliflower and broccolis are rich in β-carotene, vitamins B1 and C. They are also rich in calcium, potassium and small amounts of selenium (Se), a substance effective with anticancer, anti-heart disease and arthritis and other symptoms.

Additionally, there is a substance called lndol-3 carbonal, which can increase the secretion of female hormone estrogen to prevent breast cancer.

Recommendation: cook with seafood or cook in boiling water with a sprinkle of salt. They are nutritious, healthy and delicious.

6. Pumpkin: – Chinese medicine considers the pumpkin an excellent food for the heart, the spleen, the lungs as well as inner energy (qi). Pumpkin is indeed a very nutritious healthy food to be highly valued. It is rich in vitamins A and E to benefit human immunity especially during autumn. Pectin contained in pumpkin can “absorb” bacteria and toxic substances, including heavy metals such as lead. Besides the detoxification effect, pectin can also protect the stomach and reduce the chance for ulcer.

Recommendation: pumpkin porridge, pumpkin soup.

7. Mushrooms Mushrooms are rich in mucopolysaccharide, protein, fiber, minerals, etc. Not only nutritious, they are effective in anti-cancer and detoxification. Their high-fiber, low calorie properties make them ideal for weight watchers because mushrooms can fill you up without gaining weight. Mushrooms have many other health benefits because they contain nucleotides. They are delicious and so convenient to cook.

Recommendation: mushroom chicken soup, mushrooms over rice, boiled mushrooms with other vegetables.

8. Sprouts: – With protein than higher meat bean sprouts are highly nutritious. Protein in 1 gram of bean sprouts is equivalent to about 4 grams of meat. Sprouts contain ammonium acid, vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron and other minerals. The properties of high vitamin C and low fat, low starch and low sugar can produce good results for the prevention of constipation, weight loss, etc. Eating bean sprouts can help bowel movement. It is the ideal natural health food with good detoxification effects.

Recommendation: a mix of a variety of bean sprouts (e.g., alfalfa sprouts) topped with sugar-free yogurt and organic plum sauce or honey, add sprouts in salad, or eat sprout with an empty stomach for weight loss and detoxification.

9. Coriander: – Nutrient-rich coriander (or parsley) contains vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamins B1 and B2, etc., and rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. It also contains essential oil, and apple potassium. Vitamin C in coriander is much higher than ordinary vegetables. For most people, 7-10 grams of coriander will meet the demand of daily vitamin C. Its carotene content is 10 times higher than that in cucumber, tomato and soy bean.
Recommendation: three meals a day with plenty of coriander (or parsley).
Breakfast: coriander with apples, raisins, and nuts blended into juice;
Lunch: eat with other food;
Dinner: coriander with scrambled eggs , with pumpkin, or just bibimbap (mix with rice) for dinner.

10. Apple: – Apple is rich in vitamins B1, C, B5, β-carotene, fats, carbohydrates, protein, pectin, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, fiber, malic acid and tannin. Zinc is the essential element in nucleic acid and protein which is closely related to memory functioning. Deficiency in zinc affects memory. Apple has been regarded to as the food for intelligence. New research shows that apple peels are rich in phytonutrients that have potent anti-cancer properties against breast, colon and liver cancer cells. The apple peel is also known to have a substance (天車菊素) that can stop vomiting. Unfortunately, many apple peels come with paraffin wax and pesticide residues that are not suitable for eating.

Recommendation: eat apple daily to clear up the stool. In meals toward the weekend, eat apple with yogurt and sweet potato to prepare for a thorough clean-up when it’s most convenient.

China Watch Blog has learnt that China’s inflation rate in March rebounded more than expected due to higher food costs, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, rising 3.6 percent from a year earlier last month.

Food prices increase pushing up inflation

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, CPI was up from February’s 3.2 percent and more than the previous market expectation of 3.5 percent and food costs increased 7.5 percent year on year, compared with 6.2 percent in February.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, its is trickier for the world’s second-largest economy to add growth-supportive measures.

Li Maoyu, an analyst at Changjiang Securities Co, was quoted as saying in a Shanghai Daily report that, “Such a rate may invite policymakers to be more cautious of any moves to stimulate the economy.”

Li said recent signals of consumer goods experiencing a new round of price increases triggered inflationary expectations again.

Last month, China raised the retail prices for gasoline and diesel by a larger-than-expected margin, and planned to introduce a graduated power tariff system. Afterwards, there were reports of higher prices of milk powder, cooking oil, fast food and shampoo, while producers cited more expensive raw materials and labor costs for their price jumps.

Cheng Siwei, a renowned economist and former vice chairman of China’s top legislature, said last week in Shanghai that the country should remain alert to inflation because speculative money tended to flow into the real goods market and bolster consumer prices when both housing and stock markets were weak.

Some other analysts were optimistic.

Lian Ping, chief economist at Bank of Communications, said inflation was still controllable and the country requires more measures to boost growth.

“Despite a rebound, it was the second month for the inflation rate to fall below the government target of 4 percent,” Lian said. “Considering the economic growth which may ease further, the country should cut the reserve requirement ratio at least once to stimulate the economy.”

China is to unveil the first-quarter gross domestic product growth on Friday, and economists estimated it will moderate to around 8.5 percent, down from 8.9 percent in the final quarter of 2011.

Deflating producer prices were another sign to dismiss inflationary pressure.

The Producer Price Index, a factory-gate measurement of inflation, lost 0.3 percent on an annual basis in March, the lowest since December, 2009.

China Watch Blog has learnt that Chinese police have seized more than 3,200 tons of a new type of “gutter oil” made from decomposing animal fat and internal organs.

A China Daily report quoted the Ministry of Public Security as saying that more than 100 people suspected of producing the oil were detained in a March 21 food-safety operation that covered two municipalities and four provinces.

Police also closed down 13 underground workshops that were producing the oil. Previously, the phrase “gutter oil” referred to the reprocessing of used oil and even restaurant leftovers, which were then resold as cooking oil.

However, the new strain is made from meat that was past its sell-by date and of low quality, and even rotten animal fat and internal organs, according to the statement.

In October, residents in Jinhua city, East China’s Zhejiang province, told local police that they often smelled a foul odor in an area on the outskirts and suspected that gutter oil was being made there, said the ministry.

After a five-month investigation, police found that the group, led by a man called Li Weijian, was producing illegal oil and had animal carcasses and organs in their workshop, said the statement.

The products were then sold to refiners in the provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu, and the municipality of Chongqing. The oil was then used by restaurants as a base for hotpots, the statement said.

Li’s gang earned more than 10 million yuan ($1.59 million) between January and November 2011, according to the ministry.

Although China launched a nationwide campaign to fight practices such as this in August 2011, several food-safety scandals, including cases involving gutter oil and the illegal addition of pig feed to foodstuffs, still occurred.

So, if you are going for a hotpot meal, you may or may not end up with food cooked in gutter oil. Beware.

China Watch Blog has learnt that over 200 robotics teams from across the United States, Brazil, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Jamaica and Canada converged at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on March 16-18, 2012 to battle it out at the FIRST Mega Weekend Competition for a spot at the World Championships to be held in St. Louis, MO on April 25, 2012.

The New York City Mega Weekend comprised of three distinct and unique competitions held over the course of three days including:

NYC FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) – Rebound Rumble – FRC combines sports excitement with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams are challenged to fund, design a brand, exercise teamwork, and build and program robots to perform tasks against competitors.

This year’s regional winners include team 1635 – Newtown High School from Elmhurst, NY, team 125 – Brookline High School, Boston Latin School, Catholic Memorial School and Revere High School from Boston, MA, and team 522 – Mckee Vocational High School from Staten Island, NY. More information on the FIRST Robotics Competition can be found at http://www.nycfirst.org/programs/frc.

NYC FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) – Bowled Over – FTC is designed for head-to-head competition. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. This year’s competition champions were teams 2753 – Team Overdrive – from NJ, team 4995 – Francis Lewis High School – from Queens, NY and team 5484 – Enderbot – from Corning, NY. More information can be found at http://www.nycfirst.org/programs/ftc.

NYC FIRST LEGO League Championship (FLL) – Food Factor – FLL introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams, guided by their imaginations, discover exciting career possibilities and learn to make positive contributions to society. Winning teams include the Brics-2-bots – RoboGbots, Ryan Lions, and the Packer Collegiate Institute – Swedish Chefs. More information can be found at http://www.nycfirst.org/programs/fll.

China Watch Blog has learnt that UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the ITB Travel Trade Show (Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2012) said that one billion tourists are key to creating jobs and stimulating the economy.

Budapest

They expected to travel this year and are a vital force for economic growth and social welfare, he said.

“By the end of 2012, one seventh of the world’s population will have crossed international borders as tourists in a single year,” said Rifai in his keynote speech at the official opening of ITB.

Budapest

This “extraordinary number” will contribute to more jobs, higher income possibilities and countless opportunities for development, so critical at this time of economic uncertainty, he added.

“With growth comes responsibility,” continued Rifai. Tourism, if properly planned and managed, can be one of the most promising sectors for achieving a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable future, he said.

“Imagine how business models would be transformed if one billion people demanded sustainable practices from hotels and tour operators. Imagine how many would benefit if one billion people bought local produce or hired a local guide. These are small actions, but given the size of our sector, their impact would be huge.”

Referring to the challenges facing international tourism as it reaches one billion, the Secretary-General spoke of the many people still facing barriers to travel.

“Complicated, lengthy and overpriced entry formalities are making it extremely difficult for tourists, especially from emerging economies which are leading growth in terms of outbound markets, to travel,” said Rifai, adding that obstacles such as burdensome visa processes are not just a barrier to travelers, but to “growth, job creation and free trade.”

The Secretary-General called on the tourism sector to unite around the issue of travel facilitation as a means to stimulate demand and, as a result, create jobs. “Travel facilitation must top our agenda and we must speak together on this if we are to be heard at the highest levels of decision-making,” he said.

“It is in this belief that UNWTO has joined the voices of the sector such as the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), to advance this important issue.”

China Watch Blog has learnt that Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) has confirmed that some geese and ducks were found to be fed with growth drugs in 2011.

While the COA did not reveal the names of farms where the geese and ducks were found, stating that they have to make sure the Consumer Protection Act can be used as the legal basis to reveal the names of the farms before taking any action, it is a worrying revelation.

As Hong Kong is famous for its geese and ducks, perhaps, the Hong Kong authorities should similarly investigate whether the geese and ducks sold in the territory have similarly been fed with such growth drugs. Who knows, if no one complains, there will be no probe, and people will keep on eating the geese and ducks oblivious of the “growth drugs”.

According to a report in a China Post report, the COA said, in terms of geese, two out of 374 samples from goose farms were found with leanness-enhancing drugs last year. The COA also conducted inspections of slaughterhouses, but there were no cases to be found of the leanness-enhancing drugs.

As for ducks, one out of 390 samples collected from farms were found to have growth-enhancing drugs in 2011.

According to the COA, all cases found problematic were put under tight scrutiny and fines were issued.

Huang Kuo-ching, the deputy director-general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, stated that before 2010 not a single instance of growth drugs was found. After 2010 a new inspection method was in practice, which is the reason why several illegal cases were found after 2010.

The new inspection method investigates farms, slaughterhouses and places where ducks and geese stay before entering slaughterhouses, where the animals were most likely to be fed with growth drugs, stated Huang.

China Watch Blog reports that forty-hour work weeks, two-hour commutes, carpools, school conferences, commitments: who has time to eat healthy foods and exercise? And who can afford pricey organic, fresh foods anyway?

You can, according to Randy Wright, MD and his co-author David Tabatsky. They spell it out in practical terms in The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money (Intouch Media Health Network).

“We all know we should make healthier choices,” Dr. Wright explains. “But we don’t necessarily make it a priority. Sometimes it feels like we can’t make it our first choice. Staying fit and eating well seems to fall through the cracks.”

Moms and dads with hectic schedules are the norm right now; this pragmatic guide to good health is written especially for them. “We want to help them achieve their goal of staying fit without sacrificing work and personal goals.”

The secret is locked inside our brains, Dr. Wright says. “I wanted to explore the psychology of why we think about being healthier but don’t actually do it. To succeed, we have to completely change the way we think about food and the role exercise plays in our lives. Then you’re open for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: just as you shouldn’t start planning for retirement a mere five years before you stop working, you shouldn’t start living healthy only when something goes wrong.”

Dr. Wright’s long medical career is the background for the guide’s comprehensive overview on healthy living. From an explanation of fats and how they affect our bodies to a fascinating account of why Americans just can’t seem to put down the Twinkies, the truth about food is revealed and medical myths debunked. The financial advantages of physical fitness are outlined, and an affordable easy-to-follow fitness routine to use at home is included. “The rules we’ve developed work as personal mantras,” Dr. Wright continues. “Protecting your family and your own health are goals that should be taken to heart.”

Making The Wright Choice even more compelling are the testimonials included by Dr. Wright and his co-author. Ordinary people have found success in their health, diets and pocketbooks by following Dr. Wright’s simple regimen, including tasty, easy recipes. The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

Dr. Randy Wright is Director of the Neurovascular Institute at Conroe Regional Medical Center as well as Medical Director for the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke unit in the Woodlands, TX. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Xavier University and electrical engineering from Georgia Tech before going on to obtain his medical degree at Emory University. He completed his neurology training at Baylor College of Medicine, then went on to complete a two-year Fellowship in sleep medicine and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Wright is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He currently serves as chairman of the stroke committee for the American Heart Association’s SouthWest affiliate and as a liaison member to the South Central affiliate of the American Heart Association.

David Tabatsky is co-author of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love.

China Watch Blog has learnt that in recent months, the buzz surrounding the 2009 Bordeaux vintage has been building. Many wine critics and commentators believe 2009 will rival the legendary 2005, 2000 and 1982 vintages.

Robert Parker, arguably one of the world’s most influential wine critics, on Friday awarded a record number of wines 100-points and stated that 2009 “may turn out to be the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux.”

Hong Kong wine drinkers keen to be among the first to sample this much-lauded vintage can now do so at bordeaux etc. The premier wine retailer in Causeway Bay is receiving new wines direct from Bordeaux each week and has a team of in-house experts to recommend 2009’s best buys, identify the quality investments and reveal their full-bodied favourites.

“bordeaux etc is proud to be one of the first Hong Kong wine retailers to offer a broad selection of 2009 Bordeaux ,” says Mathieu Pouchan, Chief Sommelier of etc wine shops. “The 2009 Bordeaux vintage is already being heralded as one of the best in decades. The near-perfect combination of cool nights and hot days has produced an incomparable vintage with excellent aging potential.”

Having tasted a number of leading labels from this stellar vintage, Mathieu has selected the following wines as his top choices:

La Gravette de Certan – Pomerol 2009

Featuring ripe fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry and floral tones, the wine reveals a refreshing lightness and an elegant nose. The palate has a deep texture with creamy tannins and bright acidity. $495 HKD
Chateau Talbot – St Julien 2009

As opposed to previous vintages with an earthy nose, the 2009 vintage boasts a licorice and cedar aroma along with hints of black fruits and ripe blackberry. It also features fine- grained tannins and a long finish on the palate. $599 HKD

Domaine de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac Leognan 2009

The 2009 vintage reveals creamy, round textures of a pure red fruit. With a hint of delicate earth and smoke on the nose, the vintage displays real terroir. It is a juicy and harmonious wine featuring velvety tannins. $769 HKD

Leoville Barton – St. Julien 2009

With a fabulous nose of black plums, spices and sweet minerals, this dark purple wine reveals superb ripeness and great intensity. It leaves a long spicy finish with a caramel aftertaste. $1,090 HKD