I’m often surprised by some of the misconceptions my students from Taiwan and China have about the US. They often have wildly, usually media-induced, positive ideas about the standard of living and general levels economic, health, and social security. Articles such as the one below can be used to stimulate discussion about how and why [...]
Posts under ‘Food’
McDonald’s to collaborate on grad courses at NTNU?
I’m not sure this is such a good idea. At a time when Taiwan is trying to improve its image as a tourist destination, in part by improving its tourist infrastructure, I don’t think it should use McDonald’s as a model. Hmmm, what does McDonald’s have that a five start hotel would want? Am I [...]
Taitung rice wins recognition
Taitung rice wins recognition – The China Post TAITUNG, Taiwan — After a year of efforts, a group of 15 rice farmers in Taitung County, eastern Taiwan, were able to finally reap the results of their hard work Tuesday as the Fu Luh organic rice they grow has won recognition from the international certification group, [...]
How long can one shift the blame?
Yet another melamine story. Poison food ingredients have been coming out of China for so long now, and it has been so well documented, that at some point we have to lay as much blame on the people who buy this crap as we do on the people who sell it. And in this case, [...]
New standards?
The following article seems to say that the new Chinese standard for melamine allows for 2.5 ppm in liquid milk. In other words, they’re saying it’s OK for producers to add melamine to milk, as long as they keep the volume within 2.5 ppm. An English usage question is, assuming we knew what the old [...]
Poison pizza
The recent melamine mess could serve as a basis for many classroom activities. The following story, though short, has many implications, one being the extent to which melamine from China has entered the wider food chain. Another question this article gives rise to, especially regarding international food corporations, is one of responsibility. Pizza Hut admits [...]
Bad milk, bad coffee
Yet another article on the bad milk scandal that is increasingly affecting Taiwan. This raises a lot of questions about the practice of buying goods made in Taiwan rather than China on the assumption that Taiwanese goods are safer. That logic tends to break down if components of the Taiwanese goods are from China. Regardless, [...]
Contaminated milk
This certainly hits home, quite literally for Taiwanese students. Nearly 53,000 Chinese children sick from milk – Yahoo! News Taiwanese company King Car Co. announced it has recalled packs of its Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea containing contaminated milk powder imported from China.
Barbecue at crematorium
I’m not sure how I feel about this… Taipei Times – archives Barbecue at crematorium The Taoyuan County Funeral Service Industry Association said that anyone interested in a free barbecue on Mid-Autumn Festival should head for the funeral home in Jhongli (中壢). Last year, the association organized a barbecue for more than 1,000 people at [...]
‘Hearty eater’ says buffet banned him
‘Hearty eater’ says buffet banned him – Yahoo! News HOUMA, La. – A 6-foot-3, 265-pound man says a restaurant overcharged him for his trips to the buffet line, then banned him and a relative because they’re hearty eaters. A spokesman for the restaurant denies the claim… This article is suitable for a high-intermediate class, and [...]