Though it wasn't the most significant news story of the summer, the video that circulated worldwide in early July about the Dalian street vendor who sold pork buns stuffed with cardboard was certainly the most fun for local news outlets since it involved two subjects Japanese media can't get enough of: food and Chinese scruples. The video, taken secretly, showed the nameless, faceless vendor soak the cardboard in broth, chop it up with other ingredients, and fold the mixture into dough that was then steamed.
It was aired repeatedly on all the news shows for about a week, and at least one program, Nihon TV's "Bankisha," re-created the counterfeit delicacy with the help of a professional chef. The buns were lovingly prepared and set out on a tray in front of the show's regulars and that week's guest. However, no one actually took a bite, thus rendering the whole stunt meaningless. At the very least, the segment violated the rules of Food TV, where someone has to serve witness to the savor and texture of a dish using the standard cliches. Maybe there were no comedians available.
As everyone knows, the Chinese government soon announced that the video was a hoax whipped up by an independent journalist who thought he could make a lot of money, as well as a name for himself. The authorities said they were concerned about the pork-bun scandal and scoured the streets of Dalian for the vendor, but couldn't find him. So they interrogated the reporter, who eventually confessed to staging the whole thing.