Often thought of as a disease of the past, the painful joint swelling known as gout is reemerging as a 21st century medical affliction.

In China, rapid economic growth has lead to a populace that is wealthier, but not necessarily healthier, thanks to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

References to food served at UK hospitals are rarely kind, whether it be general complaints about overcooked, bland meals; news about budgets for hospital meals being squeezed further, or the reports from earlier this year which claimed that hospitals were supplied with meals and meat containing traces of horsemeat.

Last week, another hospital food related story gained…