Mystery of Chinese Squid: Melts Away When Blanched...Netizens Question "Is It Fake Food?"

Squid Turns Liquid Between 5-8 Minutes in Boiling Water
China Faces Controversy Over Fake Food Made with Adhesive Since Past
Netizens "It's Fake Food" VS Experts "Issue of Freezing and Thawing"

A video showing squid purchased from the Chinese market melting when placed in hot water has caused shock. Photo by Chinese media 'Kankan Xinwen' YouTube capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A video showing squid purchased at a market in China melting away when placed in hot water has caused shock.

According to local media such as Xingzhouwang (星洲?), suspicions have been raised that fake squid is being sold in China.

According to reports, a woman living in Chengdu, Sichuan Province recently bought squid at a market.

The woman boiled the squid in water to cook it, capturing the bizarre scene of it melting and disappearing.

The woman recorded the scene and posted it on social media. In the video filmed on the 25th of last month, when the woman put two squids into hot water, the squids soon melted and disappeared, and the water turned into a white liquid.

Netizens expressed surprise but also questioned whether the video was fake.

Photo by Chinese media Kankanxinwen (看看新?) YouTube capture.

In response, the woman bought squid again from the same market the next day and even took out a stopwatch to show the squid being boiled in real time.

The squid boiling in the pot with water started to dissolve between 5 to 8 minutes and completely melted away.

The woman said, "I am worried whether it is safe to eat squid sold in the market."

Netizens expressed outrage, saying that 'fake food' is still being sold and questioned whether the squid was made with adhesive.

In China, fake foods that are hard to even imagine have frequently appeared and become global news, including 'gelatin eggs,' 'cement walnuts,' 'paper dumplings,' and 'plastic rice.' In 2015, shrimp containing a type of adhesive called 'glue' to increase weight were also distributed in Chinese seafood markets.

Photo by Chinese media Kankanxinwen (看看新?) YouTube capture.

Experts argue that "applying adhesive actually increases costs and is technically difficult," suggesting that the squid may not be made with adhesive.

In a media interview, one expert said, "It is a problem of freezing and thawing," adding, "It cannot be definitively concluded that it is fake squid. The repeated freezing and thawing of the squid may have destroyed the cells, causing intracellular moisture to leak out," and "This phenomenon also occurs in other marine creatures such as sea cucumbers."

Meanwhile, the agency responsible for market supervision reportedly obtained a sample of the squid on the 27th of last month and is currently conducting tests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.