could we be at risk by eating asian food?

Question

ok i know everyone's heard this one about certain asians eating dogs and rats, since then everytime i eat chinese food i check my meat to see if it looks like any other type of meat, sometimes i get disgusted of thinking about that, that i just stop eating it. Am i the only one? and could this be possible in this dirty world?

Answer 1

No more risk than eating at McDonald's.

Try a vegetarian diet for a short while, it may sooth your mental state in regard to eating meat.

Answer 2

that's kinda offensive to me, seeing as my parents have been in the restaurant business for over twenty years and have always had to put up with comments like these. i know that it's hard not to be worried but a little trust can go a long way. all these stereotypes of asians eating rats, dogs, cats and whatnot makes me really annoyed. frankly, i'd be more paranoid getting a salad from a fast-food place because you don't know how old or how clean the vegetables are. if asian food looks this bad to you and makes you feel sick then stop eating it. restaurants take great care in preparing their meals and would never deliberately put rat/cat/dog meat in your take-out. besides, where would they even find those types of meat?

Answer 3

You're becoming obsessive. How can you possibly enjoy your food like that?

Have you seen those documentaries where they show the guy in the burger joint spitting in the burger of a customer he doesn't like the look of? Do you WANT his germs? He might have cold sores ... HERPES!!

Don't you think you should be more worried about whether the hygiene is up to scratch in these places? Think of all the germs just waiting to give you a terrible illness with long term disabling effects - how can you eat ANYTHING?

Will it REALLY kill you if you are the one in a billion who was ripped off and fed dog or cat? Or is it just the THOUGHT of it that's killing you? It's extremely rare for a restaurant or take-away to commit the crime of using old pets (acquired somewhere - like your street perhaps) as fake beef, pork, lamb, or chicken. Stick to the cleaner, more affluent looking places and you'll be fine! Keep away from the dirty places - not because of dogs and cats but because of the hygiene risk..!

And don't imagine it's only the Chinese restaurants where you might be duped - any restaurant, including a burger joint, is a possible suspect! Imagine if your burger was made of minced dog - you'd NEVER be able to tell! Do you stay awake all night worrying about THAT?

Chinese people often don't eat dogs, cats and rats themselves - especially those who live in a Western culture. They have no reason to put it in YOUR dinner, because if they got caught they'd lose their license, have a hefty fine, and have to pay court costs - plus they'd bring a lot of shame on their families.

Obsessing about Asian restaurants like this means you're in danger of becoming a blinkered racist, so please calm yourself down and be realistic - before it's too late!

Answer 4

The only reason that asians eat dogs, rats, etc is because they're poor, and have no other food to eat. Wouldn't you resort to eating the nearest animal, besides a human, if you were starving to death? Don't assume that EVERY asian person eats dog or rabbits or etc. And if you're still paranoid about what you're eating, ask the establishment that you're eating in to show you their Health Department grade. The Health Department takes lots of measures to make sure that you're not eating anything unsanitary or disgusting.

Answer 5

Sweetheart I don't really think you'll find that happening here in the USA but I have to be truthful and say "YES" it does happen in Asia with the exception of Japan.
I know for a fact that dogs and cats were eaten in Korea and that black dogs were a delicacy in the Phillipines. Had heard that they ate Monkey Brains in Thailand, and have saw pictures of them cleaning rats in parts of China and possibly Singapore.
In a Japanese Resturant, Cafe or what ever you mainly find Sea Food or Chicken. Kobe Beef is outstandfing but very expensive.
In Korea I sat down once to a meal in a village, took one look at the meat in my bowl and as I couldn't speak Korean, I asked "Moooo" and got a head shake no. I said "Oink, Oink" and also got a no head shake and then papa-son said... "Bow-Wow" and I politely left.

Answer 6

You're a little too worried. I'm sure in their own country, it's common. But here, any restaurant is inspected for certain health standards. Rat and cat meat is not allowed in this country.

Order meats you can recognize: chicken wings, shrimp, etc.

Judge the cleanliness of a restaurant by their restrooms.

Answer 7

I think if you are going to worry THAT much, you should at least start by worrying about what is in "American" food! Hot dogs include eyeballs, tongues, ears, hooves, anuses, testicles, lips etc, and almost all sausages are about as bad!

Rat and mouse droppings are such a component part of American meat processing that health departments actually have a scale of how much is "acceptable!"

And I don't even want to get into some of the things that have been found in low cost ground beef.......

Answer 8

first of all i think i have to make some things clear, asian people eat rats (they are not the house rats ok?), dogs, snakes, etc. not because they are hungry and have no other choice but instead they eat that because it is a delicacy in their area and its part of their culture.. I am asian and though i don't eat those stuff, i still try not to show signs of disgust when i see people eat them.. because that is only proper i.e. to show respect for what a person believes in.. and for those who can't take their kind of food, just be polite and say no.

Answer 9

Would you be at risk? Look at the Chinese, they are still living and breathing, right? So all those things they eat don't kill them. And still, China has the largest population in Asia. They are not dying because what they eat. And of course, many of us in Asia tend to make do with whatever, be it with food, or living arrangements. Although I don't eat dogs, cats, rats, snakes or pigs, I respect those who chose to do so. These things contribute to the wonderful diversity of the world. Ever heard of the "Durian" fruit? We love it here in South East Asia, although many Europeans and Americans hate the "stinking smell". Cheers!

Answer 10

Don't be paranoid!Only a minority of asians eat such food and most of the restaurant that serve such food in asia are found in some back lane restaurant(which i don't think you will even enter if you see it)Most asians prefer meat like chicken,pork and beef so there should be no worries for you.