火鍋底料含化學添加劑

The popular Chinese dish of hotpot is a dangerous chemical brew, according to an investigation by anhuinews.com.

中國人向來愛吃火鍋，但是中安在線的一份調查卻顯示，現在的火鍋已經變成危險的“化學鍋”。王先生曾經是一家火鍋店的大廚，現在轉行當起了商人。他說自己不當大廚的原因就是火鍋里化學添加劑使用泛濫，讓他不想昧著良心做事。他說：“現在市場上80%多的火鍋，都包含化學底料。這些底料不但降低了鍋底的成本，同時還讓火鍋聞起來更香。”

在安徽省省會合肥市的周谷堆市場，各種各樣的化學添加劑可謂琳瑯滿目。一位店鋪老板說，有一種叫飄香劑的化學添加劑，只需滴上一滴，整鍋都會很香。健康專家們稱，這些添加劑不僅會損傷內臟，還可能致癌。

Hotpot's hidden chemical hazards

The popular Chinese dish of hotpot is a dangerous chemical brew, according to an investigation by anhuinews.com. A former hotpot chef turned businessman, Mr. Wang, said he quit his restaurant job because the rampant use of chemicals went against his conscience. "More than 80 percent of hotpots contain chemical additives that not only lower the cost but also make the food smell more appetizing," Wang said.

All kinds of chemical additives can be found in Zhougudui market in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province. One shop owner claimed just a drop of a chemical called "pot fragrance" would make a hotpot smell delicious. But health experts warn that additives can harm internal organs and cause cancer.

(China.org.cn December 16, 2010)