Twenty two countries have imposed a ban on the traditional Chinese dish Zongzi as a safety precaution against possible viruses that are feared present in the ingredients of the native delicacy.

The Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau announced the ban on Saturday saying the 22 countries were concerned that some meat-filled varieties of the Chinese food may be carrying viruses that cause the infectious foot-and-mouth disease and the avian flu.

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The countries that have banned Zongzi are Germany, France, Switzerland, India, Spain, Denmark, The Philippines, Indonesia, Estonia, Burma, Brazil, Russia, Belgium, Qatar, Congo, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Czech, Taiwan, Korea and Mexico.

The United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, United States, Australia and New Zealand only restricted egg or meat-filled Zongzi from entering their borders.

Singapore only allows Zongzi coming from Mainland China but not from Hong Kong.

Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food made from rice shaped into balls and filled with red bean paste, egg or pork, and then wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is also referred to as rice dumplings.

It is  commonly served during the Dragon Boat Festival that is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar every year.

Eating the rice dumpling during the celebration has been a tradition to commemorate Qu Yuan, Chu state’s royal advisor who opposed the alliance of the king with the Qin state.

Tourists normally bring home Zongzi treats but are hesitant to do that this year following the ban imposed by the 22 countries.

Chinese authorities also imposed regulations to ensure that bacterial infection is minimized on imported Zongzi.

TagsZongzi, Dragon Boat Festival