Chee Cheong Chook Stall,Kopitiams Raided & Shutdown @ New Lane

Although 2 kopitiams and the famous Chee Cheong Chook stall were shut down, I really wonder why Da Long kopitiam (the large one right at the corner ), got away with a slap on the wrist.

Da Long kopitiam belongs to the gross out category of a third world express bus stop.
Like a fountain of marbled pee atop a mountain of rubbish.
Almost on the same scale as the disgusting Goh Chew kopitiam behind it.

Not only that,Da Long,dares charge tourists and locals for using their filthy as puke toilet.

The famous Chee Cheong Chook stall which is the worst offender of them all, finally had their secret recipe revealed : RUST marinated foods and cooking utensils coated in more jaw locking rust.

Offences chalked up by the unfortunate ones were

1. unsatisfactory food preparation in terms of hygiene and cleanliness
2. obstruction (for placing their stalls and various items on the road)
3. having workers who had not been given health jabs
4. expired operating licences

The fines range from RM10 to RM250 with 2 kopitiams shut for 2 weeks.
Pathetic.Hopefully the 2 week shut down order,will teach them a lesson once and for all.

What's scarier is that one can count how many pass the test on Penang island.
If the Health Department & the MPPP really goes on the offensive, I am afraid Penang will be left with tiny pockets of unknown hawkers and kopitiams,devoid of famous fastfoods and a wide,diverse range and category of restaurants.

Read all about it in the "Sights That Kill The Appetite " The Star April 17th,below in this link

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/4/17/north/11115070&sec=North

The Most Annoying Penangite In The Whole World

If so happen you are in any fastfood centre or any free space that anyone can convert into a no need to pay rent mobile meeting place or office for recruiting downliners,you just hope you will NEVERRRR have to hear this Chinese Yul Brynner speak.

He's big,he's bald,he's brash,he talks cash,he can single handedly make anything you eat change into Borhochiak trash.

He carries a backpack which contains his X files containing the Rich Dad(him) ,Poor Dad(you) principle to get you in Debt ed to him.

Worse still he smells like he doesn't believe in paying more for a better brand of detergent for his laundry.Or he collects free liquid soap from all the toilet dispensers he frequents.

He doesn't wear spectacles but only puts them on when he wants to bring you over to the dark side.

Although many others may choose fastfood centres like McD's,KFC etc,to conduct their free enterprises,he takes the cake.

His voice is like a baritone catapult forcing its way past your eardrums,till it ends up knocking the inside your head over and over and over, till it hurts your brain.

Your head throbs,he NEVER stops talking and soon everyone imagines they are gonna go so crazy till they already fantasize that they are all writhing on the floor already.

REAL STRESS !

One might think he is a male Susan Boyle (who makes your blood boil) with Mammoth lungs,throwing his voice with all his might cos he is afraid nobody can hear him.

So Kingkong,Goliath loud,he doesn't need a loudspeaker.

But the fact that a fastfood restaurant like Mc Dees is confined,every diner within earshot (that is the entire floorspace) will have their eardrums assaulted when he sits down and opens his mouth.

I think their glass panels must be bullet and shockproof to withstand a beating of such a nature.

In fact if the aliens were listening in ready to invade earth,I'm sure they would do the smart thing,U turn and leave us to his mercy.

I have so far bumped into Dr Vulcan 2 times.

The first time I heard him brag about his business to a trio of similar minded men, who felt the need to match his octave in stature.

The whole room evacuated,just under the 8 minutes he was there, as every child ,teenager and female,frowned at them and huffed off, till one of them finally got the message or got embarassed enough to keep his voice down.

I cringed ,sucked my cheeks in,gnawed on my fingers and stayed the furthest distance possible till I too surrendered and left.

Not him.

He thinks that if we stare at him,we find his botakness sexy. He thinks we need to go, because we beh tahan his hot sizzling aura.

If I ever have the misfortune of meeting him a 3rd time, I would rather swallow a small capsule of cyanide.

Instant death is better.

Before he enters the fastfood/public space,the floors will experience tremors.

His voice has the ability to do what two Sunda plates can summon up.

Come to think of it,maybe that day when many parts of Penang experienced tremors,he was hosting a Cepat Kaya convention in an underground venue closest to the earth's core.

When he sits down,and opens his gap,you feel as if you are being brainwashed by Pyongyang.

with the following repetitive MML catchphrase words being hammered into your skull,to get you agree to sign Condemned on the dotted line.

PERCENT....

BELI.......

JUAL.........

LU.........

UNTUNG.........

PAHAM ?...........

AAAAAAAAAA...........

KALAU...............

PAHAM ? ...........

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...........

BETOLLLLLLLLL..........

OKAY !.................

HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA !!!!!!

SO ! .......

As if you were in a special class with a special teacher giving you special after school attention.With an ulterior motive.

Except that you won't feel that you are very untung.

Cos he not only wants you to hear,he wants to spread his propaganda by killing many birds,bangaus,murais and cuckoos with One Voice.

If I were his captive audience,his choosen victim ,I know that if I were to try and flee,his voice would Taser me enough,and fill me with such fear,my body stays rooted to the ground even though my soul tries to leave my expiring,perspiring human form.

His tone instantly confirms him as a public nuisance.

You might go into a panick attack mode and chew up your paper cup or flush your head in deepest end of the toilet bowl.

If you're thinking of getting rid of him by sending him to Tibet partly due to his monk ready hairstyle,another because somewhere in your kind heart you want to make him more unmaterialistic,forget it.

Himalaya will surely be flattened and we'll all be damned.

Pray you never have to sit in close quarters and encounter his extremely irritating lectures.

Sky Emperor Chicken Feet Koay Teow Thng stall @ Kimberley Street (night)

I'll dive straight to the point.

The oil they use is hazardous.
Obvious that it has been recycled way too many times.
Bound to book you an appointment in Mount Miriam.
On par with McTucky fried chicken in Gurney Drive.

The intense flavour is not smoky wok flavour.
It is the taste of oil that has been subjected to high heat over and over again to the point of no return.

This stall became famous because it served one of the cheapest noodles on the island at night,with the lowest priced stewed chicken feet around.
That's why.

There used to be lots of people living in the inner city.Lots of poor people that looked for cheap food.As well as lots of rich who were also on the lookout for skinflint food.

After the rent repeal,courtesy of KTK, most dwellers have moved out and the surrounding lanes are a risky night jaunt to a chauffered ambulance ride if your timing,so happens to be not right and there is a drug addict desperate for a fix.
That is if chemotheraphy doesn't ravage your body first.

Enfamil,Milk Powder Alert @ USA

Posting this up just so you missed it in the papers.

The bacterial contamination discovered in this brand of growing up milk which costs a tidy sum here,was serious enough to cause a baby's death.

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Source : The New Straits Times
23rd december

US Enfamil Not Imported Into Malaysia

   Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (FoSIM) and Enfamil’s producing company, Mead Johnson, had confirmed the matter.
  “Malaysians do not need to worry, as the product is not on the list of imports,” he said in a statement issued today.
  He said US-based hypermarket Wal-Mart had recalled the product following reports alleging a baby had died from consuming Enfamil, which was believed to be contaminated with Cronocbater bacteria.
  “However, to be on the safe side, the ministry will be conducting a Level 5 Test (seize, test, release) on Enfamil, should it be imported in the future,” Hasan added.
  He said if the public suspected the safety of any food products, they were encouraged to lodge a report to the nearest District Health Office, State Health Department, or through their web site at http://fsq.moh.gov.my/v3

Diesel Humanoids @ Malaysia

"Manufacturers are believed to have bought the oil used in restaurants through middlemen and processed it for re-sale.
The association sent the samples for “polar compound testing” to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which found all 19 brands falling short of international standards"......................

so say the Shell-shocking excerpts taken from The Star which makes one wanna taC-a-strol down the aisles of a filthy hypermart,to pour a packet of petroNas-ty cooking oil down the Esso-hole manufacturers gut.

After reading all the articles in depth,I have come to the conclusion that we are a nation doomed,cos almost all mamaks,indians and malays use the cheap oil packets,while the chinese hawkers,even upmarket chu char restaurants love the savings from recycled oils refilled into imitation brand named bottles.

Courtesy of the brainless bloodsuckers,the big names who dare to sell us recon cooking oils,now every Malaysian is guaranteed of high blood,screwed up livers,stiff arteries so we can all experience a once in a lifetime real good sock it to ya jolting heart attack episode.

Fuuuhhh.
Need an adreneline rush? Take a packet of oil.
Need to commit suicide?Put it on drip.
Now you tell me....what is not Borhochiak?
Every-freaking-thing.....unless you can completely avoid eating out.

Not impossible you say?
Ok..let's all stay home,as we enjoy a wonderful cookout buffet comprising

• pesticide white rice
• potassium sorbate steamed buns
• malathion watercress soup
• melamine omelettes
• ractopamine stewed trotters
• coliform grilled eel
• formaldehyde prawn gulai
• nitrofuran fish drizzled in arsenic soya sauce
• roasted fake beef basted in anti freeze vinegar and chloramphenicol honey

Whoppee. The cancer is in us from day one of our existence already.
A spoonful of Malaysian cooking oil a day,is Satans idea of foreplay.

My epitaph will probably read : Dibunuh oleh Cap Buruh
next to another that proclaims : Caltex-ed


Refer to the series of articles below .
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Cooking Oil Hazard
The Star exclusive (13th nov 2011)

PETALING JAYA: The oil in the food you eat may well have been recycled and meant for diesel engines or some other industrial use.
Unscrupulous manufacturers buy repeatedly used cooking oil from restaurants and process it for sale in 1kg packets.
As it is cheap, it is popular not just among the public. Many food outlets buy the used oil in new packaging while livestock farmers use it for animal feed.
Thus, the meat they sell, cooked with the oil, is doubly hazardous to your health.
Tests on 19 brands sold at grocery stores and supermarkets nationwide showed the oil to be unsafe for human consumption, according to the Malaysian Association of Standards Users.

Recycled Oil Sold As New
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/13/nation/20111213064749&sec=nation

Too Costly To Turn Cooking Oil Into Biodiesel Says Middleman
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/13/nation/20111213064903&sec=nation

Doctor Fish (Garra Rufa) @ Fish Spas

How many of you have tried this treatment at least once?
I have.
Now the Health Ministry tells us that this alternative spa treatment can hasten our chances of contracting diseases such as......

1. HIV
2. Hepatitis C
3. TB

Great.Just great.
Going to keep this short.
Not to say that the fish are disease carriers,it's the water that's the problem.
Just stay away.
Don't let a fun episode watching the creatures munch away your dead cells take a deadly turn and ruin your life forever.

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Extracted from Berita Harian.....

Kementerian Kesihatan nasihat orang ramai henti terapi ikanPETALING JAYA: Kementerian Kesihatan memberi amaran risiko terapi ikan atau lebih dikenali sebagai spa ikan kerana boleh menyebarkan pelbagai penyakit berbahaya, termasuk Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS dan tibi serta beberapa penyakit lain yang berjangkit menerusi bawaan air.

And snitched off some blog.....

Pakar perubatan memberi amaran rawatan kaki menggunakan gigitan ikan kecil sambil merendamkan kaki di dalam air yang kian popular termasuk di Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) sejak tahun lalu boleh memberi kesan negatif ke atas kesihatan
Rawatan yang menggunakan ikan dikenali sebagai Garra Rufa atau juga dikenali dengan nama seperti ikan doktor, ikan digunakan untuk memakan sel kulit mati kaki dan buku lali pelanggan. Ikan berkenaan biasanya ditemui dari sungai terutama di Turki, Syria, Iraq dan Iran yang tidak mempunyai gigi tetapi menggigit kulit mati pada kaki.

Sebelum digunakan untuk rawatan beratus-ratus ekor ikan akan dibiarkan tanpa makan bagi membolehkan mereka memakan sel kulit apabila diperlukan.

Rawatan itu biasanya mengambil masa 20 minit diikuti dengan rawatan kaki tradisional kerana bukan semua sel kulit mati dikeluarkan ikan itu. Rawatan ini membabitkan kos kira-kira 95 Dirham (RM82).

Bagaimanapun pakar kesihatan dan doktor meminta pengguna menjauhkan spa ikan ini kerana air tangki terbabit mungkin menjadi tempat paling subur untuk pembiakan pelbagai jenis jangkitan bakteria dan kulat.
“Prosedur ini diharamkan di UAE kerana air yang tidak bersih boleh memindahkan penyakit seperti HIV,” kata Khalifa Mohammad Al Rumaithi, pengarah kesihatan awam di Perbandaran Abu Dhabi.
Seorang pakar dermatologi, Dr P Moham Kumar dari Lifeline Hospital berkata tiada manfaat saintifik daripada prosedur terbabit. – Agensi

Fake Liquor @ Malaysia

We really should stop pointing fingers at others and take a good look in the mirror at ourselves.
This 'problem' unearthed by Starprobe below,is not something shockingly new.
In fact it has been prevalent since the term Happy Hours gained a foothold on the masses 3 decades back.
The counterfeiters are locals.
Plain and simple as that.
If the goods come from other countries,then we bloody hell imported our bootleg knowledge there and started employing the foreigners as frontliners.
That is the number one reason why China has started removing our nitrite tainted birds nests from their shelves.

It's hard to find a nightspot operator who will refuse the bait of original liquor at duty free or smuggled prices.
Yet I find the probe rather flawed,by taking the word of one that nightspot operators knowingly buy counterfeit products to jack up profits.
Operations fold up because,they thought the trade was profitable but it turned out to be a constant cost juggling headache of trying to make ends meet.
On top of that,Malaysian customers are extremely fickle,one minute we stick like flies to this place,two years later we get bored,abandon it and head to newest venues.

Then there are two kinds of bartenders.
1.The blur types : counterfeiters pounce in on them at a quiet time before opening or after closing hours on the pretext of helping them dispose of their empty liquor bottles.
2.Those in the know : get paid for the trash

The best solution to solve part of the problem:
1.Destroy empty bottles even if you consumed it at home
2.Monitor the bottle collectors to find out who their buyers are.


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Smells Like Cheap Spirits (The Star 13.10.2011)

Beware Of Counterfeit Liquor The Next Time You Order A Bottle

Kuala Lumpur : The next time you order a bottle from the bartender,be wary of counterfeit liquor.
It may not be noticeable to the naked eye and you may be drinking adulterated or fake alcohol.
Regular consumption can lead to severe liver damage,sudden blindness,even death.
Pubgoers should treat this seriously as Malaysia is ranked among the top five countries affected by counterfeit spirits or liquor.
The most commonly counterfeited spirits are Scotch whisky and cognac,both of which command about 80% of alcohol sales in the country.
Counterfeit spirits take up about 10% to 15% of the market for certain popular brands.
Fake liquors are said to be circulating in Chinese medicinal halls and nightspots in Jalan Kuchai Lama,Kepong,Sunway Mentari,Jinjang and Desa Petaling.Penang,Perak and Johor are also not spared.
According to sources,unscrupulous nightspot operators were the biggest culprits in the chase for big profits.
"They will set up shop for one or two years and then close down and relocate elsewhere"said one source.
The usual retail price for one particular brand is about RM148.Checks showed that the fake versions of this brand was available to retailers at between RM60 and RM80.
A genuine bottle of the liquor is sold at between RM250 and RM300 at nightspots,with fake versions going for below RM200.
Another common tactic is to add adulterated branded liquor.
"When a customer buys the first bottle,the genuine product is sold."
"When the second bottle is ordered,the fake version is given because chances are after you've consumed so much liquor you wouldn't know the difference"said a source.
According to a source,cheap scotch smuggled into Malaysia was filled into branded liquor bottles which were then re-labelled.
To counter this problem,certain popular brands have a random numerical code on the cap that corresponds with one etched on the bottle.
According to a nightspot manager,outlets in Europe countered this by breaking the heads of empty bottles to prevent counterfeiters from reusing them

Crystal Soil and Balls @ Penang Schools,Bookshops,Toyshops & Garden Centres

First introduced to us 20 years ago,the new generation of crystal soil sold today is so pretty,that it looks like large sago balls or translucent jellies.It catches the sunlight so beautifully,even adults are mesmerised by the exceptionally eye catching range of colours.

Although inedible it has now been banned because apparently it looks so mouthwatering especially to toddlers who just have to pop some into their mouths.

School going kids just cannot resist their magic.Even if they hardly get out much,the product would have been introduced to them at their school bookshops.They would have skipped a meal and used their pocket money to purchase a packet(it's a herd mentality thing,their friends bought some,therefore they follow suit )

Fascinated primary kids can be found repeatedly playing with the expanded balls which they store in used  mineral water bottles at times hidden away from adult eyes in a corner of the room.

Do make it a point to check where they would have stashed theirs (beware that the instant you voice out they will pass it to their friends for safekeeping) and try to educate them on the dangers of this nice "plaything".

I don't believe in taking away something that they would have probably fallen in love with....unless of course you have toddlers in the house.



Before & After




What school bookshops

are selling to your kids



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"Crystal Ball" Seed Growing Kits Banned - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: The supply and sale of seed-growing kits known as "crystal balls" and other similar items is prohibited from Friday.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Thursday that importers, sellers and others defying the ban could be fined RM100,000 under the Consumer Protection Act.

He said the Government decided on the ban after receiving reports from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital of several cases of major surgery involving children aged one to five who were believed to have swallowed the "crystal balls."
The colourful seed-growing kit, also known by various other names such as Jelly Ball, Crystal Jelly, Baby Jelly, Baby Crystal and Crystal Soil, is used to facilitate the growth of a plant or as a decoration in a pot, he told reporters here.
Ismail Sabri said that seven surgeries had been performed at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital involving children who swallowed crystal balls, the latest being a 12-month-old infant who underwent an operation on Tuesday.
He said children who swallowed the seed-growing kits could experience symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, bloating of the stomach, abdominal pains, bowel obstructions and intestinal leakage.
"Looking at the crystal ball, it is easy to understand why children may think that it can be eaten. The original size of the ball is less than 0.5cm. When put in water, the jelly rubber ball can expand five to six times its original size," he said.
He added that Poland and Italy had banned the crystal balls last year. - Bernama

Horseshoe Crabs @ Seafood Restaurants

When I was little I spotted this helmet like dinosaur era relic crawling its way across the ferry in Bahai towards the sandy beach nearby.
A Malay man alighted from his motorbike and did not let it go far as he soon picked it up with a big smile across his face.
I asked my cousin what it was and he said that it was a very delicious delicacy but it was rather cruel to eat cos people would only eat its eggs and discard the rest.Much like shark fins where the fins are eaten and the majestic beast thrown back to a watery grave unable to swim after that mutilation.

Have seen it in many seafood restaurants but have never had the heart to try it cos of my brief childhood encounter.
Maybe this is nature's way of putting its brakes on us greedy,never satisfied humans from expediting the extinction of ocean species.

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Do Not Eat Horseshoe Crabs,Say Officials (The Star ) 18.06.2011
Two die of poisoning after consuming creatures known as 'belangkas'

Kota Kinabalu :
Fisheries and health authorities have warned the public against eating horseshoe crabs after two people were suspected to have died of poisoning recently.
A joint statement by state fisheries department director Rayner Stuel Galid and health department deputy director Dr Jamal Muhi said the two fell ill and died after consuming horseshoe crabs caught at Marudu Bay.
It added that 18 people who had consumed the crab were also treated after suffering symptoms of poisoning at the Kota Marudu hospital.
Horseshoe crabs including those found locally such as mangrove horseshoe crabs, can turn poisonous according to the season,especially during breeding months.
The flesh,unlaid green eggs,testis and viscera of the horseshoe crabs know locally as belangkas can contain high levels of a poison called tetradotoxin,studies have shown.
Tetradotoxin is a potent poison that attacks the nerve system when eaten and is similar to the toxins found in puffer fish.
Typical symptoms of this type of poisoning include stomach cramps,nausea,vomiting,headache,dizziness,reduced body temperature,numb lips and general weakness.
In severe cases the affected person might not be able to open his or her mouth fully to speak,suffer sensation of heat in the mouth,throat and stomach,muscle paralysis,increased sallivation,drowsiness and loss of consciousness.
Horseshoe crabs can be found throughout the South-East Asia region.
The creatures would normally linger in shallow waters with soft ,sandy bottoms or mud flats including in coastal mangrove areas.

Taiwanese Bubble Tea Syrup

Update :

(please refer to http://www.moh.gov.my/ or http://www.fsq.moh.gov/ for the full,current list)

Bubble tea syrup brands,health,energy and beauty drinks found to contain DEHP

1. Top 1 -Watermelon syrup (importer F&B Sdn Bhd)
2. Top 1 -Crystal Sugar Aloe Syrup (importer : F&B Sdn Bhd)
3. Top 1 -Yam Syrup (importer : F&B Sdn Bhd)
4. Good Day -Mango Jam (importer : F&B Sdn Bhd)
5. Oriyen Nutri Grow (Boy) Orange Premix -sold by direct selling Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
6. Lennox Firm-Up Collagen Drink-Leton Products (Pty) Ltd (suspected cos it contains grape syrup from CZC) 
7. Strawberry syrup -from CZC Bubble Tea Supplier
8. Strawberry syrup- T&M Resources Corporation,imported by Elegant Solutions Trading
9. Grape flavour concentrate - from CZC Bubble Tea Supplier

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My suspicions in the previous taiwan related post have been confirmed.

For the past ten years,we have been consuming bubble tea which made its first inroads into the pasar malams and hawker centres before establishing themselves in the shopping complexes..
Worst of all they have been marketing bubble tea as a cool beverage targetted at teens in particular.
Now the ministry tells us that it is contaminated with DEHP.

The offending brand used in bubble tea is :Strawberry Syrup
Manufacturer: T&M Resources Corporation
Importer : Elegant Solution Trading
Doesn't make a difference who sells or makes them to us cos first of all labels can be reprinted and facts changed.
On top of that,how are we to demand from the bubble tea franchisee that we insist on knowing who their source is,and what is stopping them from bluffing us right?

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Bubble Tea Syrup Is Unsafe (The Star) 18.06.2011

PETALING JAYA: A Taiwanese product commonly used in bubble tea drinks sold in the Klang Valley has been confirmed by the Health Ministry to be contaminated with the carcinogen diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP).
In a statement, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the product had been identified as the “Strawberry Syrup” manufactured by T & M Resources Corporation and imported by Elegant Solution Trading.
Two other products suspected to be contaminated by DEHP were
Chuang's Square Cookies the brown sugar, all-wheat, almond and sesame variants
Natural Beauty Drink Powder
Natural Beauty Fruit and Vegetable Powder.
“The ministry has instructed the companies concerned to recall their products immediately while samples have been taken for analysis. All retailers have also been advised to halt sales of the food products with imme-diate effect.
“Customers who have bought the items are advised not to consume them,” Liow said.
The manufacturers for the products were
Chuang's King Tai Chang Food Co Ltd
Prince Pharmaceutical Co Ltd while the importers are
Syarikat Nguan Seng (1990) Sdn Bhd and
Billion Synergy Sdn Bhd.
Liow also said that another 15 food products from Taiwan had been tested and found to be free of contamination, including New Choice Pudding, Lychee Syrup, Honey Peach Syrup and Black Tea imported by Elegant Solution Trading.
Other products free from contamination include Power Bifidus Yogurt Drink, Kinohimitsu Japan D'tox Juice and eight Cosway Oriyen products.
Other food products found not contaminated include Singlong Ho Egg Noodle, Sun Chi Song Hua Ban Noodles, White Jade Noodle and MIC's Taiwan Lemon Wafer.

Kiew Brothers Boxing Chicken Dried Meat(Wo Lai Ye)aka Oloiya bak kwa & 2 Penang Bak Kwa Outlets

I don't know why The Star newspaper under reported this article from Bernama.

Not only that it also left out one of the brand names reported.

My guess is,the business must involve some big guns or political donors with ties to the MCA.

The Kiew Brothers Boxing Chicken brand has its roots in Petaling Street.It used to be so famous that if a Penangite were to find out that anyone were making a trip down to the capital city,they would request that you help them purchase a box back home for them.

Before you read the article below here is a list of popular bak kwa brands in Malaysia.

Which of the 3 are the culprits?

So far we only know of one Kiew Brothers.

Question is...which ones are the remaining two brands ordered closed down in Penang?

1. Foo Heong("Ju Xiang")
2. CHOP LOONG KEE SDN. BHD("loong kei")
3. Chun Me Food Trading ("xin quan mei")
4. Tan Heong Kee("Chan Heong Kee")
5. Wing Heong
6. Kiew Brothers("Wo lai Yeh")
7. Hock Seng Guan("Fuk Sing Yun")
8. Eng Hock Hiong("Wing Fok Heong")
9. Anthony Un Jang-Yang("Un's Bakkwa")
10. Hock Chuan Hiong("Fu Chuen Xiang")
11. Bee Cheng Hiang (the singaporean franchise that's found everywhere)

Rule of the thumb is...if your bak kwa doesn't turn mouldy even after a couple of months in the fridge,never buy it again.

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Cap Ayam smoked pork producer faces court action

The Malay Mail

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 17:34:00

PORT KLANG: Court action is being taken against the producer of 'Cap Ayam' smoked pork containing preservative that exceed permitted levels.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Rule 147 of Food Regulations 1985 states that processed meat should not contain over 200mg of nitrate and nitrite.
"This is a serious offence and convicted meat producers face RM20,000 maximum fine or jail not more five years or both under Section 13B of Food Act 1983," he said after monitoring food products imported from Taiwan here today.
Nitrate and nitrite are preservatives used in processed meat to inhibit bacteria growth and enhance colour.
Liow said when consumed, nitrate will be converted into nitrite in the body and join red blood cells (methemoglobin).
"High red blood cell will reduce its ability to supply oxygen to organs making the person tired, dizzy, difficult to breathe, look pale and suffer headache and palpitation.
"Food subjected to high temperature or high acid will result in amine from meat protein and reaction with nitrite will form nitrosamine which can cause cancer."
He said the ministry analysed 80 samples of smoked pork, sausages, dim sum and pau and found three samples of smoked meat with excessive nitrite.
One sample from 'Cap Ayam' brand had been ordered removed from stores nationwide while the others were produced by two shops in Penang which had been ordered closed

Bak Kwa/Bak Kua/Bak Gua/BBQ Pork Can Cause Cancer

In case you don't know what Bak Kwa is,it is a sweet caramelised jerky made from barbecued pork meat that draws the crowds partly cos it showcases the cooking process in front of the shop much in the same way as if a red indian were mass messaging another with unfathomable smoke signals.

 

We chinese people have been so stupid over the past 50 years or so to equate expensive prices,perfect snow white grains and spotless uniform vegetables to quality produce.
With industrialisation and science merging together to form a toxic food industry,pioneers (or what I call unscrupulous conmen masquerading as businessmen)convinced our people via adverts and so on,that luncheon meats,fried dace and seasonings like oyster sauce were clever ways to please the family while appearing like a million dollar cook.Chefs and hawkers made a killing by introducing us to unsafe additives sold out of our view like farming pesticide in a bottle.
I don't care what the food technologists tell us cos they've been indoctrined with facts that have been drummed into their heads that enabled them to graduate and not be jobless.

 

One by one the seams are beginning to unravel.Very soon is there no food left that is safe to eat?

 

With the expose on rubbish pork finally sinking in,outlets selling BBQ bak kwa saw a dip in sales too.
Still we liked to buy these as snacks or to bear as gifts when house visiting during specials occasions.

 

Now this.

 

In anyway when consuming barbequed meats or burgers it is best to counter the carcinogic effect from the burnt areas with some raw salad or a squeeze of lemon and onions.But we don't.Cos either we are stingy or lazy or the Bak Kwa seller is stingy or lazy.

 

The problem with Bak Kwa is,it not only consists of partially cindered parts like what you find in satay(satay always comes with onions and cucumber),Liow now gives us in black and white the excessive amount of nitrate used in it's production.
No wonder it could last so long in the fridge without ever turning mouldy.

 

Anyway,I do know some buddhists who will refuse to eat onions and garlic.
That is bad for your health ok?
To reject the cucumber and onions that come with your satay is sheer cancer propogating folly.

 

In fact,with regards to this topic,we Malaysians rank as the most troublesome tourists in the world due to our varied cultures and unreasonable beliefs.
Whoever takes them on a group tour will have the nightmare of having to contend with demands from total vegetarians,partial vegetarians,buddhists who refuse to eat garlic,onions and beef,hindus too,no pork for muslims,eggless eaters,diners that cannot eat spicy food,others that must have a spicy dish,those that must have chinese meals,soya sauce,belacan,sambal,budu,salted fish and cili padi,too heaty this,too "windy" that,this too much "angin",why don't they sell nasi lemak,roti canai,tau sar pau......even if they were right smack in the middle of the Antartica.

 

I am already having a headache just thinking about it.

 

Please read the article below and recollect how much of the BBQ pork strips and floss/serunding(which is getting increasingly whiter and paler...suspicious eh?)you have had over the years.

 

If you were greedy and ate alot I have no words to console you.If it will make you feel any better,I  will share a story about a non meat eater.

 

I once knew a non smoking vegetarian,who despite exercising regularly died of cancer.Some whispered that the cancerous genes already exist in our body.Some insisted it was second hand smoke.
I blame it on two things

1. his penchant for the delicious taiwan sifu taught,marketed and sold to Malaysian hawkers and restaurant cooks, fake fish,fake chicken,heavenly dishes that killed him.After all,how on earth does one replicate the taste of meat without some nasty chemicals involved ?   OR
2. the vegies he ate that came from Cameron Highlands were coated so liberally in Malathion and fungicide with no regards for a window period of waiting before harvest,no amount of washing could have possibly removed it

 

Feeling better?
Nope?
Me neither.
We are all doomed.
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Three Dried Pork (Bak Kwa) Products Recalled From Market : Liow (14.06.2011)- The Star

 

KLANG: Three dried pork (bak kwa) products have been recalled after tests found they have too much nitrate, a preservative that can cause cancer if consumed excessively, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“The maximum amount of nitrate allowed is 200mg in one kilogram of meat. The samples were found to have more than 1,000mg of nitrate,” he told reporters yesterday after checking the mechanism on monitoring imported food here.
Liow said legal action had been initiated against the food processors.
On another matter, Liow said the South Korean instant noodles Shin Ramyun (Shin Ramen) have tested safe for consumption and did not contain carcinogen di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)

 

Taiwanese Banned Beverage,Yoghurt,Jam,Sports Drinks,Health Capsules,Bubble Teas,Powdered Drinks Alert

Read the article below plucked from The Malay Mail.Liow goes on to allay our fears that these items are not imported into Malaysia.

However if you have a circle of importer and repacker friends,you would know that it would be best to avoid those nice juices,even yoghurts and jams that have a thick body to them since their sources are most times not revealed on the labels.
In case you do not understand what I mean,it is like how the Singaporeans and Japanese import in our products and relabel them as Made in Singapore or Made in Japan.
I also do hope you know that cheap Korean noodles come from China and are not made in the Korean Peninsula.Their noodles have a vegetarian gluten feel and thickness to it unlike most of the noodles imported into our country which are thinner.When you go on tour and are herded into their korean shops that offers cheaper Korean noodles and seaweed by the boxful do bear in mind that you are purchasing made in China korean noodles instead.

Coming back to this latest food scare,the Hongkong government has warned that the substance used could shrink testecles and cause kidney toxicity.The Vietnamese and Pinoys have issued alerts too.
It all came about when the culprit in the storm of a bubble teacup substituted palm oil with DEHP and DINP to cut cost.

If it can affect up to 400 different kinds of drink brands,would bubble tea stalls that get their supplies from taiwan be affected too?
Think about it.

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Tainted food & drinks from Taiwan alert

Submitted by francisnantha  

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 23:04:00

Food and drink products from Taiwan tainted with toxic chemicals di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) are prohibited in Malaysia, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Liow said among the restricted products are Uni-President Asparagus Juice by Uni-President Enterprises Corp Taiwan.
Also prohibited are Sunkist Lemon Juice, Sunkist Lemon Juice Drink with Aloe Vera Pulp, Sunkist Orange Juice and Sunkist Orange Juice drinks manufactured by Country House Inc in Taiwan and exported to Malaysia through Sunlight Foods Corp, Taiwan.
"We are also monitoring the market and entry points for food products imported from Taiwan such as fruit juices, jelly, jam, yoghurt and sports drinks," he said in a statement today.
Liow said the ministry was informed by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that traces of DEHP and DINP, which are used to make plastics more flexible and durable, were found in products exported from the country and might have carcinogenic effects.
Other affected products are sports drinks from Taiwanese company Young Energy Resource Co Ltd such as the Speed Sports Drink (600ml), Speed Sports Drink (Lemon Flavour)(600ml) and Dong Nung 1000 Sports Drink.
However, Liow said that the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia revealed that these products were not imported into the country but the others had been ordered for immediate withdrawal from the market.
"The ministry will confiscate tainted products still found in the market and take action under the Food Act 1983 on individuals involved in importing, storing, preparing, distributing and selling these goods," he said.
Liow added that the public needed not worry about imported food from Taiwan as they had imposed control on affected items.
For more information, the public can contact the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division at 03-88833652/03-88833653 or visit its website at http://moh.gov.my or http://fsq.moh.gov.my/

Food Suicide Check List

1. Rubbish pork(dead pigs,diseased pigs,dog food grade pork,crappy imported chinese pork) in our local sausages,pork balls,paus,dim sum,bbq meat,minced meat....Great just great.
2. Cadmium in rice from china(affects the nervous system)....I'm so excited (malaysian version comes with tons of pesticides)
3. Melamine in milk ( to spoil your kidneys)....old news
4. Arsenic in soy sauce (for cancer and bowel disease).....wonderful
5. Bleach in china mushrooms ....nice
6. Detergent borax in chinese pork, added to make it resemble beef.(causes symptoms like malaise, nausea, upper abdominal pain,gastroenteritis bleeding accompanied with vomiting blood, diarrhea, drowsiness, fever, and headache).....I am impressed
7. Forchlorfenuron in watermelons (makes them misshapen,seeds white,explosive)....bowls me over
8. Human birth control chemicals used on cucumber plants....whopeee
9. Sichuan peppers releasing poisonous red dye in water.....who needs lipstick?
10. Barite powder fed chickens to increase weight before sale making the birds heavier than they actually are,If your chicken intestines have a grey powder in them ..bingo! Genius!

What a way to die.
Happy belated Mother's Day to me.
Sigh.....

Goat's Milk and Local Mutton*/Lamb*/Goat Meat @ Penang

* Our food operators are notorious for mislabelling/miscategorising/misspelling foods according to their whims and fancies.Unless you are one hundred percent sure they import their meats and do not use local sources(oh did I mention they are prone to bluffing too?) I would lump them all under the same type of meat,especially more,since beef can be passed off as fake mutton at our Banana Leaf and Nasi Kandar outlets!
You did know that didn't you?Didn't you?

Update (27th April 2011)

Only today does The Star run the article "Errant Goat Farm Sealed"one day later than The Sun.How half hearted and smacking of guilt.
It goes on to mention the four people that were infected.Am not putting it up here.You can google the headline and read between the lines.What an embarassment.I really do hope some heads will roll over this fiasco.

Earlier posting

Not long after the article run by The Star newspaper "Goat Farm An Added Attraction"came out,I wrote a piece to remind us of the dangers of drinking unboiled goat's milk.

Then on the 19th of April,The Star runs an article online saying that the department had imposed a quarantine on the farm.It doesn't mention that 4 people have contracted brucellosis.
This is downright irresponsible journalism on their part.
Today,the 26th of April,The Sun newspaper has this to say,"FOUR CONFIRMED TO HAVE BRUCELLOSIS"

I won't dilly dally so long over this subject.Just gonna attach 2 articles for you to peruse and come to your own conclusions.

Anyway,when it comes to this particular newspaper,they have a great track record for really sucking at food journalism from wayyyyyyyy back.

Currently their number one reporter based in kay el is numero uno on my list for borhochiakness.I am not blown away by her smorgasboard of impressive looking on the outside patchwork recommendations.
She's trying way too hard till she comes off as a desperado essay writing freak, giving her all to keep her nice cushy food review job.She should stick to her corporate writing which she does very well at and not try to poison us with all her crap.

When it comes to enthusiastic food reviews,do read through that newspapers reporting with a pinch of salt.Cos they at the HQ do tend to like to employ people based on looks alone,very sexy or good looking people or extremely big breasted women who seem intelligent and probably did very well in college but are pompous overbloated airheads.
Serious reporters who look like Julie Andrews would probably not get a break here in this office.If they do,they'll be put behind a desk...out of sight.

Their rival newspaper(an otherwise good read with in depth English language)on the other hand likes to have hot kooci mamas and old bimbos as their food writers.Sheesh.

Thirdly,the Sun (the free paper)doesn't churn out many food reviews but at least their stable of plain,boring looking,perhaps ugly?writers are honestly brutal,sometimes to the point of making some people in the F&B line loosing their jobs.Oh well.Win some loose some.

Anyway coming back to my inclusion of local goat/mutton meat as a no go.
Look at at this way.Phee,has already given him a warning.He is confirmed to be as stubborn as an ass.
I bet you if he got wind that they were going to cull the goats,he would dispose of them as meat into our local markets.So stay away from juicy grilled lamb shoulder at the local westerns,sup kambing,mutton curry and the like too until this blows over and the operator comes back to his senses and does the right thing.

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Four Confirmed To Have Brucellosis (Himanshu Bhatt) 26th April 2011-The Sun

Georgetown: Four people have been confirmed to have contracted the contagious brucellosis disease after consuming contaminated goat's milk at a farm in Penang,since health authorities raised an alert on April 18th.
The four comprise a Singaporean tourist and three Penangites.
The Singaporean who had visited the farm in Air Itam here earlier this month is back in Singapore where he is receiving intense treatment.It is understood that the disease has begun to affect his kidneys.
Penang Health Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the authorities were working to monitor and control the 39 goat farms in Penang as a precautionary measure.Eleven were unlicensed.All movement of goats out of the farms is now prohibited.
Brucellosis can be transmitted from an affected human to another.The bacteria,Brucellosis Melitensis,with which the goat's milk consumed by the four had been infected,can cause chronic diseases that can persist for life.It can also cause reproductive diseases and intense fever.
Phee yesterday advised consumers to filter with a cloth and boil all fresh milk before consumption.He said the Veterinary Department,Penang Island Municipal Council and Health Department had conducted a follow-up inspection at the Air Itam farm on Sunday and found that its operator had FAILED to comply with restrictions imposed.
Seventy-seven dairy goats at the farm have been confirmed to be carrying the bacteria.The goats were among about 300 at the farm that have been quarantined.
"We gave the farm operator firm instructions on April 18th to restrict movement of the goats but this has not been adhered to"Phee said."We have also told them not to sell any of the goats or their milk.They must not even give away the goats droppings as manure.
Stressing that uninfected goats may be housing bacteria currently in the incubation period,he warned farm operators to comply with health department directives.
Phee said the authorities were empowered to cull affected goats and pay the owners compensation of only RM50 each.
"Don't push your luck too far and test our patience.This disease is highly contagious and we do not want the situation to go out of control"

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Goat Farm An Added Attraction (24th March 2011)-The Star

By Ann Tan (anntan@thestar.com.my)

Air Itam is now more than just the Kek Lok Si Temple,Penang Hill and Air Itam Dam.

Fresh and nutritious: A worker milking the goat at the farm near the Air Itam Dam

A goat’s milk farm located several metres away from the dam has somehow become a new tourist attraction for Penang.
Formally a durian orchard, the 1.6ha land was later converted into a farm by three brothers Sen Ng, Adie Ng and Ray Ng in 2009 and has now more than 300 goats.

Growing well: Sen showing a one-week-old kid at his goat's milk farm

Sen, 45, who opted for early retirement after serving the police force for 20 years, said the farm is part of their hobbies.

Enjoying their food: (above) The goats feeding on soya bean waste at the farm located a few metres away from the Air Itam Dam; (below) Cham (in orange) from Pahang about to drink the goat's milk. With him are his wife and daughter

“We started off with only four goats and slowly bred them into the number we have today.
“We hope the place can be a stopover for joggers or tourists after a tired walk at the dam.
“Our farm is also open for the public to visit and see how we manage the goats and obtain their milk. Entrance is free,” he said when met at his farm recently.
Sen said among the goats kept in the farm are the “Alpine, Anglo-Nubian, Saanen and Toggenburg” breeds.
“Our goats’ milk is free from pungent taste as we feed them grasses, soya bean waste and bean sprout shells. We have eight workers, six from India and two locals, to maintain the farm. They also have to look for a lorry-load of grass to feed the goats,” he said.
The estimated cost for maintenance is RM10,000 per month.
Sen said the workers would milk the goats twice a day at 8am and 7pm.
“If the milk is not extracted, the kids (baby goats) would be sick when they consume it from the goats.
“Our goat’s milk is also 100% natural as we only filter the milk without adding any ingredients,” he said, adding that they could get about 50 litres milk daily.
Workers also have to cut the goats’ nails from time to time since they do not live in mountains and jungles.
The goat faeces would be kept and later sold as fertiliser.
Contractor Ken Cham, 40, from Pahang was seen stopping by at the farm with his wife Cheng Guat Kuan, 37, and daughter Lina Cham, 12, after their visit to the Kek Lok Si Temple.
“My cousin brother took me here and I find the goat’s milk tasty,” Cham said.

Brucellosis Danger in Unsterilized Goat's Milk

Can't believe that a local newspaper has today featured an article urging people to try goat's milk that has been freshly expressed at a farm here on the island.
Honestly hope that the farm operators do not serve unsterilized milk to visitors.

Why am I kicking up another fuss over milk?

Well just to jog your memory,if you have been a regular visitor to the Botanical Gardens you would have noticed some entreprising young men hawking fresh goat's milk from the back of a pick up.
On other days they would ply the tourist belt,selling the same item.
This went on for approximately a year plus if I am not mistaken until some people started falling ill.
They disappeared soon after but I have seen their truck and banners occasionally in the vicinity of Pulau Tikus.


Drinking unsterilized goat's milk is risky because there is a chance you may contract brucellosis.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that induces inconstant  fevers, sweating, weakness, anaemia, headaches, depression and muscular and bodily pain.
The symptoms are like those associated with many other febrile diseases, but with emphasis on muscular pain and sweating.
The duration of the disease can vary from a few weeks to many months or even years.
Which is exactly why you should take it seriously and ensure that milk is boiled before consumption.

Am attaching an article from July 2010 for the benefit of those of us who forget so easily.

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98 Goats Culled After Boy Drinks Infected Milk
23 Jul 2010

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is conducting checks on goat milk suppliers and has culled 98 of the animals after a seven-year-old boy became the first person to be infected with brucellosis.
Brucellosis is caused by the Brucella bacteria and is a disease mainly found in cattle, swine, goats and sheep.
The boy fell sick after drinking raw goat’s milk. He was admitted to a private hospital after coming down with fever on April 24, said state exco member Phee Boon Poh.
He was transferred to the Penang Hospital several days later after failing to respond to the antibiotics given.
Also called Bang’s disease, or undulant fever, brucellosis is a highly contagious disease caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions.
It causes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain and swollen glands, and can result in complications like bone and joint lesions, encephalitis, meningitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Phee said that following the incident, the state Veterinary Services Department began conducting checks on milk suppliers.
“We hope suppliers from Kulim, Kuala Ketil and Lunas will heed the department’s advice to prevent the spread of the disease,” he said.
Phee said the department had so far tested 3,243 serum samples of goats from 11 farms in the state.
“Ninety-eight of the goats were culled after the test results came in positive,” he said.
He said the owners of the culled goats were paid compensation of RM5.60 per kilo.
Phee advised the public to boil milk before drinking. He also urged those selling mutton, including for the coming fasting month, to ensure the meat was free from the disease.
“An awareness campaign will be held on July 27 by the various government departments and the municipal councils,” he said.

Potassium Iodide(Iodine Pills) and Iodized Salt

Now that the US has actually started banning certain food imports from Japan,thus accelerating the panic and mania,do read up on this excerpt taken off allvoices.com before popping salt or iodine pills into your mouth.
The article goes on to recommend red wine as a better alternative.Frankly speaking,if you know the brahoha over fake red wine(where they put bovine blood in to colour it instead) you wouldn't try it either unless you were able to purchase it from a reputable winery off the estate itself.
I personally do not take our importers word for it.Neither am I going to take red wine just cos some claimed it will help stave off radiation.
Fiddlesticks.
The only thing red wine will help with is in increasing blood circulation and an excuse for drunken sprees.

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Radiation Fears : Who Should Consume Potassium Iodide?

The nuclear scare following the Fukushima accident last week made people all over the world alarmed over the possible health risks it may bring to themselves especially the young ones and pregnant women.
It is understandable to be concerned about the situation but it is important to be equipped with the accurate information to make sound judgment and know the proper action to take if the need arises.
Sudden or long-term health problems may occur following exposure from radiation particles after nuclear plant blasts.
Risk factors to health hazards depend on many factors such as the extent of exposure and distance from the nuclear source among others. Therefore, nuclear plant workers are at the highest risk of exposure. Residents living near the area are at increased risk that is why they were evacuated 30 kilometers away from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant.
The Japanese authorities have screened hundreds of people for possible radiation exposure and have so far not reported any illnesses.
The Philippine Department of Health Website says that acute radiation poisoning or syndrome manifests as nausea, vomiting, fever or diarrhea. More serious symptoms such as hair loss and presence of blood in feces and vomitus may happen in more severe cases.
People who are exposed should be decontaminated, which means removing all clothes and shoes and showering. To prevent organ damage, treatment is necessary.
The treatment is Potassium Iodide (KI). But before considering taking in KI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website advises that
You should only take KI on the advice of emergency management officials, public health officials, or your doctor. There are associated risks with KI intake.
KI is the medicine form of iodine. Iodine is also present in most foods that we eat such as cow's milk, eggs, mozzarella cheese, yogurt and strawberries.
The iodized table salt is a good source of the mineral under normal conditions but its iodine content is not high enough to counter the radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland once internal contamination has commenced. Therefore, CDC said "You should not use table salt as a substitute for KI."
Located in the lower part of the neck, the thyroid gland makes and stores hormones that regulate bodily functions like body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate among other things. Thyroid hormones help kids grow and develop.
KI acts by blocking the radioactive iodine from going in to the thyroid gland.
Once the stable form of iodine is inside the thyroid it fills the gland.
The thyroid cannot take anymore iodine for the next 24 hours.
It is also important to know that KI may not give full protection against harmful radioactive materials. KI's ability to block depends on how fast KI is absorbed in the bloodstream, the time lag between contamination and KI intake and the total amount of radioactive iodine a person is exposed.
The following people need to take KI following the advice of the authorities and doctors in their particular locality: infants (including breast-fed babies), children up to 18 years of age, young adults (18 to 40 years old) and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Adults (over 40) need not take KI unless otherwise advised by local authorities.
KI is available in liquid and tablet forms. It is taken in by mouth.
I have no idea what made some people consider the use of Betadine (povidone iodine) antiseptic as prophylaxis for radiation syndrome.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that red wine can protect against the damages brought about by radiation.
In a report by UK's The Telegraph, researchers found that the anti-oxidant resveratrol in red wines can protect the cells of mice in their experiments. Now, you don't have to drink Cabernet because you feel down from exposure to radiation. You will drink it to become healthy.
To highlight the importance of treatment from exposure to harmful radioactive materials, if you live far from the area, there is no reason to panic. Consult your physician and public health officials before considering to take potassium iodide.

Clenbuterol Piglets and Pork From Henan,China

1. Limb Tremors
2. Nausea
3. Headaches
4. Involuntary twitching like you were a goth in a My Chemical Romance video
5. Over thirstiness

are symptoms that you should be on the lookout for to pinpoint exactly when you may have consumed or bought pork fed with this substance.
Clenbuterol was originally designed to combat asthma.
It later turned into a performance enhancing drug that some kiasu Olympic athletes use.
Now pig farmers love it.

To feed it to the pigs means you get a mutant muscular Mr.Universe porkzenegger.
A very good thing for butchers who have silly customers who insist on lean pork.
Come on man,pigs were supposed to be fat and obese.
Not some Marie France slimming advertisement with King Kong muscles that can squash a bull like a mosquito in the blink of an eye.

For us sedantary humans to eat porkzeneggers,is like drinking 100plus isotonic drinks when all you do is exercise your eyes in front of the tv.
Meaning it is not going to be burned off effectively.
Anyway you put it,it screws up your system.
That is why it is banned for the sake of the kiasis and the kiasus.

I mean we're talking about steroids ok?Some will argue that clenbuterol is not a steroid.Others will insist it is a miracle diet pill.
Steroids was what some suspected to have driven a Canadian pro wrestler to slaughter his entire family.

To find out the full extent of its purpose and effects,since I am a mere laywoman and a certified doctor quack,don't just take my word for it,refer to wikipedia.

Meanwhile I will address this issue,by relating my personal experiences to you.

There was a time when the doctor misdiagnosed my accelerated heart rate,tremors,breathlessness followed by an outbreak of cold sweat and attributed my suffering to causes ranging from panic attacks to nervous disorders that he said could be partly due to stress,late nights and my irregular eating hours.
He said he could give me some pills to calm me down if I wanted.
I was aghast and adamant that he did not cos I did not want to get dependant on a couple of pills every now and then.
Then with a sinister tone he advised me to go for a thorough check up to identify if I could be having an underlying undetected heart condition or some medical condition which I most probably inherited and did not know about.
I asked Doctor Wang Besar,Wang Besar to go fly kite under my breathe.

When I related my problem to a non-smoking colleague,he swore that it could be due to the fact that I sometimes cavorted in smoky conditions that could have set off an allergic reaction to the chemicals entering my pores and messing up my system.Okay,more reasonable than the doc.

Because I was determined to put a stop to it and get to the bottom of the matter,I started eliminating the causes myself.
I ensured I ate on time and went to extreme lengths to avoid smokers to the point of almost loosing my job.I slept earlier than usual.
Tried every angle yet was still having the darned attacks.

At one point the frequency and intensity of the attacks became so great (every week,one attack)that I toyed with the idea that perhaps I was going nuts and perhaps Wang Besar was right.
Maybe I should go for a check up.
Maybe I do have a heart condition.
Maybe somebody in the family didn't tell me something about our medical history.

Until I read in the newspapers that our bodily tremors could be due to consuming pork fed with fat busting steroids.
Piglets were out of the question for me as I cannot stomach nor find any gastronomic delight in eating baby animals.For that same reason I do not consume veal.

On a last ditch effort I tried this 'theory' out.
If I had consumed a pork dish from one place I would not eat pork after that for 2 days.
It was then that my symptoms miraculously stopped.
I had found the root cause of my problem.
Pork!
If I had developed any heart condition,this was the cause of it.

I never buy pork from the moustached butcher in the Tanjong Bungah market anymore.
I fnd that I had this problem because I used to consume pork meat that he supplied to certain stall owners in the area.
Also,I never eat at a famous western near Jamal Tariq,one that just recently relocated anymore too,cos the last time I ate there,the tremors and attacks started again.
Just in case I was wrong,I gave it a second and third go.
2nd time I ordered just their chicken grill and the 3rd the all day breakfast set.
Yet still I 'kena' cos I suppose the grilling pan would also have this substance all over it to cross over and contaminate all other meats.
Lastly I tried a new choo char place near BHPetrol Air Itam and am swearing off that too.

Nowadays,I prefer to cook pork myself and I get my supply from 3 places ONLY....
an obese trading family at a corner shoplot outside Chowrasta market,a stall nearest to the chicken seller on seventh road market and a lean husband and wife's stall in Tanjong Bungah market.

So far,I still do eat pork outside cos I am an absolute flop at stewed pork trotters.
I find I have no problem with the pork leg in Loke Yuen nor Teik Senn.
There are other places too.Will list them down when I find the time to do so.

To date,no Malaysian has ever been admitted into hospital for Clenbuterol poisoning not even me but that doesn't mean it is not happening.
At least my body responded accordingly to warn me.
But our society is such that when we have a headache,some will blame it on accumulation of wind(angin),then when we are suddenly thirsty,aji will be the usual suspect.
When the doctor cannot find out anything wrong,some will blame it on black magic for goodness sakes.
Not once does pork come under the radar for causing the above.

The report below came out today.
Below it is another one taken from a fitness blog dated as far back as 2003 when many chinese were hospitalised.
The 2003 incident if I am not mistaken,was not reported here in Malaysia.

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Stricter Checks On Pork,Piglets From China
(The Sun-21.3.2011)

Health Minister Datuk Sei Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry will raise the inspection level on all pork and piglets imported from China following the detection of a banned substance in pork in the chinese province of Henan.
It had been reported that pigs in central Henan were fed an illegal additive believed to speed up muscle growth and burn fat resulting in leaner pork.
The banned additive clenbuterol,is considered hazardous to people and can cause nausea,headaches,limb tremors and cancer,the chinese media reported.
Authorities said they were investigating more than 1,300 pig farms.The police have detained more than 14 people and at least 6 government officials or employees have been suspended or fired,according to media reports on Friday.
Liow told Nanyang Siang Pau that Malaysia imports pork and piglets from China and there is a need to tighten inspection on these products following the incident on Henan.
He said the nspection will also include Chinese pork being sold in the market.
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From Correspondents In Beijing
10-24-2003

(AFP) -- Pork contaminated with a fat-burning chemical popular among body-builders has poisoned 39 people in northeast China's Liaoyang city, state media said today.
Of those poisoned, 29 had to be hospitalized with symptoms ranging from involuntary twitching to acute thirstiness, the China Daily reported.
It turned out they had all eaten pork containing clenbuterol hydrochloride, a chemical developed to fight asthma which has grown popular among body-builders because it also burns fat.

For much the same reasons, pig farmers like the product as it helps them produce leaner meat.

It is not the first time that this particular chemical has sent pork eaters to hospital in China. In 2001, it poisoned 484 residents of south China's Heyuan city, the paper said.

Officials complained to the paper that despite random checks, it is hard to stop farmers from using the chemical, because of its easy availability.

Food poisoning cases happen frequently in China, and are mainly due to insufficient government monitoring of the food service industry and poor hygiene practices, although crime is also sometimes involved.

Polycarbonate No.7

Update :

27.3.2011

Out of curiosity I checked the bottom of an old CNY cookie container,horror of horrors it had the number 3 on it.

17.3.2011

Many parents have been spotted at department stores grabbing baby feeding bottles with the sticker No BPA.
Water bottles that suspiciously look exactly like the old BPA ones now sport No BPA tags.

Stickers and tags are so easy to attach.
I have my doubts as to the authenticity of the manufacturers claims.
These items seem to have popped up overnight out of the blue,on our shelves less than 2 days after the Health Ministry's announcement of the ban a year from now.

Please do your google searches with your respective smart phones on the spot and double check before buying.
Try not to trust their claim until you do the triangle number check.

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Original Post
16.3.2011

A big thank you to the authorities for taking this long to act against a material linked to

1. hormone disruption
2. miscarriages
3. birth defects
4. certain cancers
5. type 2 diabetes

When you get to the end of this post,you may need to check your hung upside down,office water dispenser and see if it bears the number 7 inside the triangular recycling logo.
If yes,DO NOT consume cos you will never know how many times your water supplier has recycled the bottle.

Close to a decade ago,a foreign owned pharmaceutical chain,was the forerunner in promoting these beautiful looking bottles.
Soon the market was awash with these products from Perlis to Sabah,misleading AN ENTIRE GENERATION into consuming water leached with BPA.
So safe did they say it was that they even encouraged us to store and consume HOT WATER from it.
DAMN THEM!

Now,manufacturers and traders have been given a grace period of ONE YEAR to get rid of their stock(i.e.sell it cheaply to kampung folks and simpletons).

Recycling logos have different numbers embossed into the triangular symbol.In some cases,we have to strip away the plastic packaging because for some baffling reason,it is not printed on the bottom as per international standards.

Let's learn the meaning of these numbers.
Pay close attention to 1,3,6 and 7.
In the meantime,learn to trust our instincts and reject false claims thought out by hoodlum businessmen and their advertising agencies.

Extracts taken from Pacebutler.com

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1.PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephalate Ethylene)


PET poses low risk of “leaching” breakdown products but experts caution against any repeated usage.

Found In: Soft drink, water, juice, and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.

2.HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)

HDPE is believed to pose a low risk of contaminating contents with breakdown products.

Found In: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt containers; cereal box liners, bleach bottles.

3.PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)


Rarely recycled, this plastic is considered to be dangerous in relation to food preparation and should not be allowed to come into contact with food when cooking. It contains chlorine and will release toxins to the environment if burned.

Found In: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping. Also used for peanut butter jars and water jugs, wire and cable jacketing.

4.LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene )


Found In: Plastic bags and grocery sacks, dry cleaning bags and flexible film packaging, Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet

5.PP (Polypropylene)


It is widely used in containers designed for hot liquids.

Found in: Yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles, straws and film packaging.

6.PS (Polystyrene)


PS is characterized by its low melting point and is a good material for insulation.
It can be manufactured into rigid foam products like the trademark Styrofoam.
This material has long been on the watch list of environmentalists because of its widespread use and difficulty in recycling. Current evidence suggest that Polystyrene can leach toxins into food.

Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases

7.Other (Polycarbonate)


The category “Other” includes material not categorized under any of the resin classifications above or combinations of any of those.

Found in:

1. Three and five gallon water bottles
2. certain food product bottles
3. ‘bullet-proof’ materials
4. sunglasses
5. DVDs
6. iPod and computer cases
7. signs and displays
8. certain food containers
9. nylon
10. outdoor and camping bottles
11. gym bottles
12. baby bottles

In recent years,it was found out that many no.7 plastics are made with Polycarbonate plastic which, under scientific experiments, were discovered to leach Bisphenol A.
This is a type of chemical known to be a hormonal disruptor causing miscarriages and birth defects. According to a study conducted by Case Western Reserve scientists,synthetic xenoestrogens one of which is Bisphenol A or BPA are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women,decreased testosterone levels in men,are particularly devastating to babies and young children and has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes

Japanese Restaurants' Claims

Update (17.3.2011)

A Certificate of Radioactivity issued by the Japanese Competent Authority for foodstuff imported from Japan will be imposed only from APRIL 15TH .
From now till the 15th of April,SAMPLES of fruits,veges,fish,fish products,meats from entry points will undergo Level 5 testings by the Malaysian Nuclear Commision.
That gives unscrupulous merchants a window of one month to pull tricks out of their sleeves.
Meaning they will quickly stock up,quietly print new labels,encase them in totally new packagings,erase and change expiry dates,put misleading information up with intention to deceive us customers etc etc etc

If you really want to donate directly to the Japanese people,Isaribi Tei's owner,Yasuyuki Kayashima is collecting donations from his customers.
His restaurant is located next to Jemputree,opposite Hotel 1926 and Kochabi at Burmah Road.

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Original post
16.3.2011

When we eat in,Japanese restaurants will brag to us that their products are fresh and air flown in every week from Japan.
When they encounter a problematic situation such as the current radioactive fears,they backtrack and tell us what we want to hear.
If they said their steak is Kobe beef,all of a sudden they will tell you that they got their stocks from New Zealand and blah blah so on so forth.Don't worry,it is safe.
Why should we take their word for it?

One thing I DO know is that Sushi King uses A LOT of locally sourced produce such as the Jasmine rice brand instead of japanese grains.
Take heed that if some outlets expect their stocks to last for a month,then in the months to come we should really pay attention to where the heck they get their supplies from.

Now you even have one chain that dares to tell the newspapers that their stocks arrived months ago.
Wow.Awesome....
HELLO?
Read on and keep the highlighted paragraph in mind,oh readers staying in KL/Selangor.
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No Disruption In Food Supply

(The Star 16.3.2011)

PUTRAJAYA: The supply of meat and fish in Malaysia will not be affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
Food supply in the country remained steady despite the twin disasters in Japan as most of the meat is imported from Australia, New Zealand and India,” he said.
His ministry and the Health Ministry will work together to monitor food imported from Japan for signs of radiation contamination.
“All food products entering Malaysia have to be safe for consumption under the Food Act,” he said after launching the National Dual Training System course for farmers here yesterday.
Meanwhile, industry players said all Japanese food products in supermarkets and restaurants are safe for consumption.
Japanese restaurant Rakuzen manager Wendy Chan said its food stock arrived several months before the earthquake in Japan.
“Our stock comes from Hokkaido and so far there is no shortage.”
Sushi Kin Sdn Bhd executive director Law Hwee Ching said that their stock had come early this month.
“We do not expect any impact from the crisis as our supplies will last for one to two months,” she said, adding that the company mostly imported non-perishable items like noodles and seasoning.

Shojikiya Sdn Bhd, which has Japanese product speciality stores, said their stock will last a month.
“We’re working with our suppliers to ensure all products are radiation- free,” said administration manager Lee Yit Siew.
Village Grocer manager Foo Eng Keat said he anticipated a worldwide stock shortage after the natural disasters.