Can you stomach expat life in China? Telegraph.co.uk recently looked into this very topic:
Obviously food in China just isn’t the same as food in the U.S. It’s not necessarily better or worse – that’s up to you – but it certainly is different. And different foods come with different bacteria, and those CAN be bad:
Dr Moshe Rubin, one of a number of visiting specialists brought to China by the Institute of Western Surgery, said: “A lot of the problems we see in the West we see in Shanghai including bowel irregularities and heartburn. There is a greater incidence of intestinal parasites though. Above all, food quality seems to be very high if you select where you get it. But there is an increased likelihood of developing intestinal infections. People from the West haven’t grown up with these infections. E. coli and yersinia are both acquired by eating food that hasn’t been handled properly.” He added that there is also a higher incidence of the bacteria giardia. “These can be treated with antibiotics. The symptoms are nausea, bloating, weight loss and diarrhoea.”
So be safe and smart when it comes to food – whether you’re living in Beijing, New York City or London. Having lived in New York City myself, I can promise you there are risks there, too! Eat well – be well!