Mice as first line of defense
The week's news at a glance.
Beijing
Athletes at the 2008 Olympics won’t have to worry about food poisoning—but they’ll have one less excuse for failing drug tests. Beijing health authorities said this week they will test food in the Olympic compound by feeding the ingredients to mice 24 hours before they are served to humans. Since much of the poultry and other livestock sold in Chinese markets are given feed laced with hormones, athletes who eat those animals could fail doping tests. But mice are so sensitive to the hormones that officials will be able to quickly tell if food is contaminated so it can be removed before it is consumed. As a further precaution, the Chinese Doping Control Center has ordered the Olympic Committee to set strict standards for food suppliers about the feed they use.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Leave the crowds behind at these 7 sensational hotels
The Week Recommends Traveling in September means more room to explore
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The history and impact of HBCUs
In depth Schools have long been desegregated, but historically Black colleges and universities are still filling a need in the United States
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Aide to NY governors charged as Chinese agent
Speed Read Linda Sun, the former aide to Kathy Hochul, has been accused of spying for the Chinese government
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published