Chinese martial arts movies abound with scenes in which the hero puts a long, silver needle into a dish in front of him to test whether the dish was poisonous. Now, can we follow suit to ensure that what we eat is safe and healthy? Obviously no; poisonous substances contained in foods today are too diverse and complex to be ascertained through simple ways, let alone by the fictional one mentioned above.
It is estimated that over one thousand toxic substances, some of which can be fatal, have been added into food ingredients and flavorings. In the beginning, most individuals, especially when dining out in restaurants, did not know that what they have been eating has been "poisoned". As more and more reports are released that foods served today are harmful to our health, almost everyone is aware that foods today are not as safe and healthy as foods were in the past.
Unfortunately, Chinese citizens often eat out. Young people especially, prefer to dine in restaurants located in business districts where they can also go shopping, watch films or exercise at the gym. The trend is understandable; many young people in China today have been spoiled to some extent so that most of them are not able to or are unwilling to prepare food at home. Since they can eat and have fun with friends in restaurants, they simply ignore the hazards such as an increased risk of obesity along with diabetes and cancer.
