Groceries!

[Char Siu King]

Really? There's no chance I could shop in a UK supermarket and pay less than in a wet market, even if there is a little gweilo tax involved. No chance.

I wonder if the markets in the UK put on a little Chinaman tax? Just a thought. Please continue.

[Obaing2011]

What is a 'western' diet anyway, in terms of cost that could be pasta with some tomato based sauce topped with cheese (cheap) or it could be a huge prime bit of steak with some leafy salad (more pricey).

To paraphrase an oft-quoted bromide, if you had to ask (e.g. "western diet"), chances are you won't like it.

Besides, I don't see why people get worked up over others' strickly, or trying to sticking to, western diet. To each, their own.

[chingleutsch]

OP, as a Kai Bo supermarkets (the absolutely no-frills name here) and wet markets person myself, and happy with the local kind of diet, I have to say I am still eating more cheaply than I did in Australia. My big splurge is when I'm in a larger supermarket (Kai Bo doesn't do insect repellent, which I need where I am) and I see some premium German yogurt heavily marked down because it's nearly at its use-by date

But items you mentioned such as whole grain breads and dairy (not just low fat) are definitely NOT local staples, and you will pay quite a steep premium for them even allowing for the cost of air freight.

And a quick plug for those who like organic veggies in season: There's an organic farmers' market (no farmers may be sold without carbon molecules included ) held every Saturday in the grounds of Crossroads Foundation (Castle Peak Rd, Tuen Mun, just opposite Stage 1 of HK Gold Coast).

[HowardCoombs]

For the full article, you can head over to: Top 10 Chinese Food Scandals

Nicely written, non sensationalist and generally accurate article.

Of course, you have no cause for concern, HK's diligent public servants are eternally vigilant and would never, ever allow any of that sort of stuff to end up in our food supply.

Are you aware of food scandals in Hong Kong that is so different or so much worse that what we have seen in US/UK/EU over the past couple of years?
If yes, I'd love a pointer so I can learn more.
If no, then why the cheap shot?

Speaking of cheap shots, I'm happy to provide you some food scandals from US/UK/EU, the so called civilized ones for you if you cant find any for yourself.

[dear giant]

Nicely written, non sensationalist and generally accurate article.
Are you aware of food scandals in Hong Kong that is so different or so much worse that what we have seen in US/UK/EU over the past couple of years?
If yes, I'd love a pointer so I can learn more.
If no, then why the cheap shot?

Speaking of cheap shots, I'm happy to provide you some food scandals from US/UK/EU, the so called civilized ones for you if you cant find any for yourself.

What percentage of those US/UK/EU food scandals are (1.) intentional (i.e. adding harmful chemicals to food to cheat food quality control checks), (2.) endanger human health, and (3.) Do not involve ingredients imported from China and other developing world countries?

Most Western food scandals are (1.) legitimately accidental (regular, non-glow-in-the-dark bacterial contamination), (2.) don't endanger people (e.g. prepackaged sushi producers using cheaper types of fish than indicated/expected), or (3.) involve tainted/dangerous stuff imported from China/Elbonia.

[dear giant]

Just show me anything even remotely equivalent to different, multiple producers adding powdered/slurried plastic to large quantities of milk intentionally to cheat rudimentary quality controls. Repeatedly. After crackdowns.

You can't.

[HowardCoombs]

Nice attempt at deflection but entirely irrelevant;
You made a cheap shot about Hong Kong civil servants and I called you out on it. I'd like to hear some details please.

*After* that I'll do the searching work for you and educate you about US/UK/EU food scandals.

[dear giant]

Nice attempt at deflection but entirely irrelevant;
You made a cheap shot about Hong Kong civil servants and I called you out on it. I'd like to hear some details please.

*After* that I'll do the searching work for you and educate you about US/UK/EU food scandals.

It's not a cheap shot. It was a sarcastic but completely accurate remark. Consumers in HK are basically defenseless except for a well-intentioned but overworked and basically toothless "Consumer Council". The will can be found to stop filibusters and to pass laws discouraging by-elections but, curiously enough, not to beef up consumer protections.

You blustered about Western food scandals but know that there's no comparison between what goes on every day in China, HK's primary source of food (through legit channels as well as smuggling), and what goes on in the developed world.

[HowardCoombs]

It's not a cheap shot. It was a sarcastic but completely accurate remark. Consumers in HK are basically defenseless except for a well-intentioned but overworked and basically toothless "Consumer Council". The will can be found to stop filibusters and to pass laws discouraging by-elections but, curiously enough, not to beef up consumer protections.

They must be doing a damn good job because you are still flapping your gums but unable to point to any incidents but continue to harp on irrelevant topics like byelections and consumer protection laws. Lets get back to groceries, yeah?

You blustered about Western food scandals but know that there's no comparison between what goes on every day in China...

You'd have to be living under a rock not to know whats going on in China. Now, stop changing the subject and lets get back to where we live, Hong Kong and its food supply; overseen by our fearless civil servants which you dont seem to hold in high regard.

I wait for you to point to their food safety related shortcomings.

[mid_gen]

Hmm, Top 10 Chinese Food Scares in a UK newspaper. If you want to live your life by what the media tells you to be scared of, you go for it! I'm going to be a dribbling mess from BSE soon anyway so what the hell.