China Bans Dog Meat in Restuarants

Many of us are looking forward to the Chinese Olympic Games this summer.  It is both a symbolic representation of goodwill amongst all of the countries around the world, and a measure of how far China has come in public relations with countries both large and small.

Another part of their public relations plans for the Olympic Games is the Banning of dog meat from all 112 official Olympic restaurants. This is in order to avoid offending their foreign visitors.  The ban has been issued by the Beijing Catering Trade Association, and forbids all designated Atlantic restaurants from placing a dog on their menu.  The BCTA also urges other restaurant’s to remove the meat from their menus during the course of the summer Olympics.

Dog meat is known as, fragrant meat, in China and eaten by some Chinese for purported medicinal properties.  Restaurant workers are advised by the BCTA patiently suggest another meal option to diners that come in and order dog meat.

Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau told Xinhua, ‘If a customer orders dog meat, restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entrée.’

So if you have been looking forward to going to China for the purported dog meat exotic meals you’ll find that you are going to be disappointed in these official Olympic restaurants.  I myself do not suggest the eating of dog, especially for medicinal properties.

The BBC’s James Reynolds stated that this band is just one of several steps taken by China to avoid offending foreign visitors or even to avoid appearing humorous and becoming the brunt of their jokes.

Authorities have also told people to line up lately, smile at foreigners, and to avoid speeding on the streets.  In China there is a practice of people lined jumping in order to avoid long waits.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7501768.stm