During a recent raid on a wholesale centre in Guangzhou City, a large quantity of fake eggs was seized. Their wholesale price is 0.15 yuan (S$0.03) each - half the price of a real egg. Consumers have a hard time telling a g enuine egg from a fake one. A reporter with a Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine enrolled in one such course. To create egg white, the instructor - a woman in her 20s - used assorted ingredients such as gelatin, an unknown powder, benzoic acid, coagulating material and even alum, which is normally used for industrial processes. For egg yolk, some lemon-yellow colouring powder is mixed to a liquid and the concoction stirred. The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called 'magic water', which contains calcium chloride.
This gives the 'yolk' a thin outer membrane, firming it up. The egg is then shaped with a mould. The shell is not forgotten. Paraffin wax and an unidentified white liquid are poured onto the fake egg, which is then left to dry.
The artificial egg can be fried sunny-side up or steamed. Although bubbles appear on the white of the egg, those who have tasted it say the fake stuff tastes very much like the real thing .
But experts warn of the danger of eating fake eggs. Not only do they not contain any nutrients, a HongKong Chinese University professor warned that l ong-term consumption of alum could cause dementia or mental disease .
--- UNBELIEVABLE?
BELIEVE IT.
Just make sure the eggs you have at breakfast are REAL ones.
