Official food testers (for poison) for the Beijing Olympics

What a job!
Who would want such a job? How much are they paid?

Would you believe that white mice have been hired to test the food for the athletes... and they’re doing it for free! Actually, I guess they’re doing it for food and board...

According to Zhao Xinsheng of the Beijing municipal health inspection bureau, milk, alcohol, salad, rice, oil and seasonings are being fed to white mice 24 hours before being served to the athletes. This method is quicker than other methods to test the food- the mice would react to poison within 17 hours.

A thankless job for the brave little mice...

Sources:

“White mice to test food for Beijing Olympics”. http://www.china.org.cn/english/olympic/189208.htm

“Olympic mice will test if food is squeaky clean”. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article639325.ece