Added to a long list of what Chinese officials deem to offensive or morally corrupt web sites, all web sites and content related to western cooking will be banned as well.
Announced yesterday during a scheduled and translated news conference, Premier Wen Jiabao, said "The over indulgent and varietal ways of the West shall not influence the state mandated eating habits and diet requirements of this government".
Found to be a bit of a contradiction with other Chinese policies, critics wonder why the government has allowed fast food franchises like McDonalds into the country but restricts access to the Food Network online. "It's all about money and of course, keeping the man down", says US social activist Ephraim Milstein. "The Chinese get their cut of restaurants there, but don't make a yuan from the web".
Other Chinese web sites are planned as replacement for Western food oriented content. One site called "Wok with Wing", will feature the many uses of Ginger. In fact the entire site and attached recipes don't stray from spice combinations limited to Ginger, Garlic, and Peppers.
"You think the Chinese might want to experience a little Sage, or Rosemary, or Fennel from time to time. This is just another example of fierce governmental oppression", says Milstein. "There's even a restriction on how much hot pepper can be used. Too much and you stray into Korean or Vietnamese recipe territory. Jiabao won't have any of that."
