China Eastern Airlines’ Menu Mistranslation: “Imported Dog Food” Confusion Explained

The inclusion of “imported dog food” on China Eastern Airlines’ business class menu recently created quite a buzz, but it turns out it was all due to a translation mishap. Contrary to what many believed, this was not an actual dish served to passengers. The menu item was intended to read as “imported cured meat,” a common appetizer in Chinese cuisine. The mix-up occurred because the Chinese words for “cured meat” (腊肉) and “dog meat” (狗肉) share the same pronunciation, leading to the translator’s confusion.

The error was first spotted by a passenger named Conrad Wu, who shared a photo of the menu on Facebook, prompting widespread curiosity. The image quickly went viral on social media, with numerous individuals expressing astonishment at the menu option. Some even playfully speculated that it might be a hot dog. Additionally, questions arose about how Jewish and Israeli passengers might feel about flying with a pilot who purportedly supported Hamas, a designated terrorist organization according to the US and many other countries.

In response to the controversy, China Eastern Airlines issued a statement clarifying that the inclusion of “imported dog food” was simply a “typographical error.” They have since rectified the menu and extended apologies for any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused by the mistake. The airline has committed to enhancing its quality control and translation processes. However, they have not disclosed the identity of the translator or the consequences of the error.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, mirror.co.uk