This has to be the most bizarre story of the year, if not the decade. Almost 6,000 dead pigs have so far been found floating in the Huangpu river which divides the city of Shanghai in two. When I first read the story I had to check the date wasn’t April 1st because it just seemed so unbelievable.
The theory is that the pigs were being kept in inhumane circumstances and decided to escape by swimming across the river. Okay, perhaps not. The most likely theory is that they were sick or infected and dumped in the river in a neighboring province. There are two health concerns – firstly, the river is the source of drinking water for many Shanghai residents, although authorities have insisted the quality of the water has not been compromised by the pigs.
The second concern is that unscrupulous opportunists will fish out the dead pigs and then sell them to restaurants. I think this worries me more than the drinking water issue (I never drink water from the taps anyway).
More on the story in the Shanghai Daily.
The image of 6000 pigs bullrushing into the river to escape inhumane treatment is too good to not be true. Let’s just say it is.
Sorry about double-post – no idea if these comments are going through.
@Tao – Thanks and sorry, seemed to be stuck in the SPAM folder. But yes, let’s go with that inhumane theory. This is China, it isn’t that far fetched!
I read about this yesterday and the count was only around 900!! This sounds SO crazy! No pork for you for the next few weeks!!
Back in the UK from Shanghai for a holiday I was amazed when I saw this. I don’t drink the tap water anyway and don’t know anyone in Shanghai who does.
All the expats I know will not touch Chinese meat anyway so this will make it worse. In fact most Chinese people I know don’t like Chinese stuff either due to all these food scares.
BTW the blog is much better with pictures of girls!
although authorities have insisted the quality of the water has not been compromised by the pigs.
———-
And you typed that with a straight face.
@Robbie – When you say “all expats” I think you mean all the spoiled, paranoid expats. I know expats who drink tap water and many who eat meat here that isn’t expensive and imported (I rarely eat any meat except local meat purely for financial reasons). Have you had much horse meat over in the UK during your stay?
And if you want pictures of hot girls, there are other websites you can go to!
@Yon – I had two different pork dishes last night. You cannot give up pork!! But yes, it’s hard to see how there could be a more bizarre news story this year.
@Bittermelon – In the supermarket last week I saw lemon infused olive oil. Now we have bacon infused water. What’s the problem?
WoAi- Wow, I’ve never met an expat that drinks the tap water. You must have some bad-ass friends!
@Stimpy – Guy who works with me for instance. When you go to a restaurant and refuse mineral water and ask for “bing shui” where exactly do you think the water comes from?
Ah, so he doesn’t want to pay for an expensive bottle of water, but they surely get it out of a water cooler? Or from boiled water? I would be surprised if they just got it from the tap, but nothing really surprises me in this country….
@Stimpy – In the UK (and I guess a lot of Europe) there has been a bit of a backlash against bottled water which is one of the biggest marketing scams of all time, so I think that’s partly driving his behaviour, although I personally would never drink from the tap in China.
I am pretty sure that SOME places will just take water from the tap because my understanding is that officially it is drinkable. The problem is, even if the water is fine, many older buildings have old piping so no matter how clean the incoming water is, it’s only as clean as the dirtiest part of the pipe.
Actually when I took my Shanghai aprtment I was told not to drink the tap water. This was by Shanghainese people. All of the Chinese I work with only drink the bottled stuff. I also know some expats who buy meat from wet markets also.
As for horse meat I have eaten that many times in Europe, knowingly of course. Never touch packet meals in the UK.
Well, still around 6 more hours until end of Saturday….
No more love for Tommy or HuiHui…
Have a nice Caturday, sorry Saturday WoAi!
Cheers
JR
15,000! It’s pigdamodium!
@JR – Apologies. Something special for you posted today!
@T – Is it really that many now? In the words of Charlie Brown : good grief!