Pasembur Rojak

  Next time when you plan to go to Penang, don't forget to try this local food called "Pasembur Rojak" (or Indian/Mamak rojak). Penang is famous for it's Nasi Kandar, Kuey Teow, Lobak and other delicious foods. And now, Pasembur Rojak is also a Penang's signature delight.

One of the best rojak I've tasted ! 

Pasembur Rojak. (At Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Penang) 

  With it's origin from Indonesia, Rojak is a local name for it, which means mixture. This cuisine, is actually a salad, with vegetables, fruits, sprouts, vermicelli, boiled eggs and meatballs (mostly chicken, fish and crab). With a special gravy which is made of jambu air (water/juice of guava fruit), squid fritters and honey poured all over, this dish surely will turn your mouth watery. I can surely promise that. 

Restriction on GM food

Beta-lactoglobulin

    A cow has been genetically modified to produce milk lacking a protein that causes some allergic reactions. Beta-lactoglobulin is found in cow's milk, but not in human milk, researches found. This can cause diarrhea and nausea in some toddlers. But now it has been eliminated from the milk of a cow in New Zealand using a technique called RNA interference.

  Back in 2006, scientists found that a short piece of genetic material called microRNA interferes with messenger RNA, which carries the instructions to create beta-lactoglobulin. So they added DNA that encodes the production of this protein blocking microRNA into cow embryos. Out of roughly 100 embryos, one calf produced milk free of beta-lactoglobulin.

  Ironically, the researchers are unable to taste the milk from their hypoallergenic cow - drinking it is prohibited under New Zealand law. In fact, almost no genetically modified animal has been approved for comsumption by regulatory authorities around the world.

Source : Knowledge, Vol 5 Issue 1 , page 20 "Should restrictions on GM food be loosened?"