A Chinese cook has gone on trial in east China’s Zhejiang province after being accused of painting abalones and goose paws to make dishes more visually appealing, Xinhua news agency reports.

The 27-year-old suspect surnamed Chen painted inedible pigment on 12 abalones and 100 goose paws worth 4,786 yuan (US$777) since March 2013, said the Xihu District People’s Court of Hangzhou City.

Chen is indicted on charges of manufacturing and selling poisonous and harmful food.

He is alleged to have started applying pigment on goose paws and abalones after customers at a hotel in Hangzhou where he worked complained of his cooking.

Health authorities made the discovery during an inspection at the hotel on Aug 6 last year.

The trial continues.

- Bernama