SEX, BOMBS & BURGERS

Ah China, land of melamine (a plastic) in milk and clenbuterol (an asthma drug) in pork. Now we can "ink in French fries" to that list.

The Standard in Hong Kong reports that people who spread their fries on paper place mats at fast-food establishments may be risking ink leeching into the food. Apparently, random inspections of KFC outlets on Hong Kong's mainland found written warnings telling customers not to put their food on mats.

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety says the allegation is without merit. What's less reassuring, however, is the centre's statement that there is no scientific evidence that ink on food is hazardous to your health.

Mmm... ink. Just think of it as a new kind of special sauce.

While it's easy to believe food horror stories coming out of China, the source of this news - The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong - should raise some eyebrows. The group is a pro-communist, pro-Beijing party operating in the territory. This sort of thing sounds like pretty clear agitation for more government oversight of the food industry in Hong Kong.

Even still, I'm going to think twice about spreading my fries onto anything now. I'm also reconsidering those claims that it's okay to use newspaper as a substitute for toilet paper!