Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter
The proprietors of some Chinese restaurants across the island are seeking to dispel rumours that they are introducing dog and rat meats into the Jamaican diet.
An article that is currently being circulated online, claims that "several Chinese restaurants in Jamaica have allegedly added these animals to their menu under special cuisine names."
The article also stated, "the practice of cooking dogs and rats have sneaked its way into becoming a norm in the island."
THE WEEKEND STAR spoke with the several Chinese restaurant owners from Kingston and St Andrew, Westmoreland and Falmouth, and they stated that at no point have they included rodent or any other unpalatable meat to their menu.
One owner of a Chinese restaurant based in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland, while denying that his establishment served the items, stated that he has heard customers making reference to other restaurants selling them, but he could not state their location.
"Sometimes me hear dem talk bout it, but dem nuh sehh where it happen," he told THE WEEKEND STAR in a heavy mandarin accent.
He also told THE WEEKEND STAR that because of the rumours, he is at times teased by customers, "dem come here and seh as joke, if we a cook the pitbull or the mice."
THE WEEKEND STAR spoke with regular Chinese food connoisseurs and they stated that they have heard the rumours but it has not stopped them from enjoying the oriental cuisine.
"I've heard that there are some restaurants selling them, but no one knows the name of any specific restaurant, where it's happened or if it's true," 22-year-old Sharon Blake said.
While 30-year-old Kavon Smith stated, "yes I've heard about it, I've been hearing about it for years now."
Checks were made with the Kingston and St. Andrew Public Health Department and a public health inspector told THE STAR, "we have nothing to say about a matter like that until we have done an investigation."
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