Master Kong Con: Chinese Bottled Water Is Polluted Tap
IN China, the Master Kong bottled water is on sale. It’s dee-lish-ooos.
The TV advert says the mineral water, sold in Beijing for 1.5 yuan a bottle, is made of “high-quality water source” (优质水源).
The “high-quality water source” is also known as tap water. But there is a twist: you have to boil the wonder product before it’’s safe to drink.
Today’s Chinese Business View reported that on September 2, Master Kong apologized to the public, saying that the company “didn’t make it clear enough and has caused misunderstanding among its customers.”
It’s a victory for the web.
The affair started in July with a post on Tianya, a popular forum. In the post, the author gave a description of the factory with details that disgusted many readers. The author concluded that Master Kong’s factory in Hangzhou must use the tap water because it is nowhere near any natural water source, except the polluted Qiantan River.
Old Mr Anorak advises repackaging it as ‘Lilt Asia’ and making a fortune…
September 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I had a bout of ‘misunderstanding’ the other week. Went through a six-pack of Andrex and became so pale that objects could be glimpsed through me. Someone should tell Welsh Water that they have a golden export opportunity here.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I’m not sure you are on the right thread; the Daily Wail is always in need of horror stories, and if you play your cards right you could get the dosh before we all die next Wednesday…
September 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
You must look elsewhere, chenier. I may have fractured my sense of moral outrage on the Mail’s latest monster-under-the bed. I just hope it knits together, or I’m storming Northcliffe House.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
H 2 O- I-need-the-toilet-so-badly
September 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
When it comes to the Wail the trick is to drink a large alcoholic beverage before venturing anywhere near it.
God knows how Anorak’s liver has survived since 1995…
September 4th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Laphroaig is very gentle on the system
September 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
..and yet so damaging to others, June - like when you awake to discover that you have driven a grandfather clock through your nearest and dearest while under its influence. I blame the peat.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Magnetite , I have problems with the weights in the clock…and its dated 1793
but Laphroaig is an elegant beverage, even when the barman on the Folkestone- Boulogne ferry raises his eyebrows a touch at 6.35 a.m on a cold winter morning
September 4th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
For shame June, all ferrymen should adhere to the principles of Charon, their patron, and do their best to usher you to the other side. He should at least have asked if you wished it to be integrated into a hot toddy. Don’t these people know we’ve been a nation of sots since the middle ages?
September 4th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I am patial to Lagavulin, which may be why I am shunned at family funerals, weddings and the reading of various wills.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Lagavulin.
I see from the tasting notes that the ‘cover continues when water is added, with some plastic buckets’.
I’m just going to stick with the Glenlivet, if it’s all right with you…
September 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Don’t knock it chenier, it’s one of the few substances you can ingest that can provide all the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning without having to actually contain any metals. Also the hangovers allow one to briefly understand the entire shape and nature of space-time…for about a quarter of a second…just before you begin begging nearby strangers to kill you.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I appreciate that my preference for Glenlivet makes me a bit of a wimp, but I assume that you feel that the game is worth the candle.
Bear in mind, however, that I am still trying to master the art of making frozen margeritas; I am not wholly unfamiliar with the brain damage bit.
On the other hand I never want anyone to put me out of my misery; I just want to murder anyone who enquires why I didn’t drink a pint of water before I went to bed…
September 5th, 2008 at 2:08 am
They say that future wars will be fought over Water !
Judging by this summer in the UK……… we’ll all be £ billioni arse
Fill your wellies up