No Lye: China Bans Lutefisk

Posted by Baylen on Dec. 16, 2008

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Just in time for lutefisk season, China has banned lye from all foodstuffs. It’s a sad day for… well, it’s a sad day for someone (presumably Scandinavian)!

Substances commonly used as industrial dyes, insecticides and drain cleaners were included on a list of illegal food additives China released Monday as part of a monthslong government crackdown aimed at improving the country’s shoddy food safety record.

Among the 17 banned substances was boric acid, commonly used as an insecticide, which is mixed with noodles and meatballs to increase elasticity, a statement posted on the Ministry of Health Web site said. Also forbidden was industrial formaldehyde and lye, used in making soap and drain cleaner and added to water used to soak some types of dried seafood to make the products appear fresher and bigger.

If you (like me) have never tried lutefisk, you’ll probably want to watch this video, in which a dimpled, bacon-obsessed Kermit the Frog shows viewers how to eat the fish dish. Listen Kermie: If you can’t say nuttin’ gute ’bout LUTEFISK, den don’t say nuttin’.

How to prep your lutefisk here. Flashback to when lutefisk cost $1.99 too much here. More on lye in general at the unimpeachable Wikipedia.

Picture via CureOlives.com, who uses the stuff to (drum roll) cure olives.

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  • Great post, what you said is really helpful to me. I can't agree with you anymore. I have been talking with my friend about, he though it is really interesting as well. Keep up with your good work, I would come back to you.
  • I think that was Bill Cosby with his hand up the puppet.
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