Deep-fried dough sticks known as Pa Thong Ko are a popular street food in Thailand. Top photo: Sanook.com, Photo: Thai Rath

 

By Channel News Asia

posted by TNR Staff

 

THAILAND’S Department of Health has asked consumers to avoid the locally popular Pa Thong Ko fried dough with Thai iced tea for breakfast, as they can provide too much energy and undermine health.

 

The advisory came shortly after the two local favourites made it to the top ten rankings on TasteAtlas, an online travel guide focusing on food and featuring reviews as well as recommendations from culinary professionals and critics around the world.

 

In February, Pa Thong Ko came fifth in a list of 10 best-rated street food sweets in the world on TasteAtlas while Thai iced tea was the seventh best-rated non-alcoholic beverage.

 

Pa Thong Ko – crispy, deep-fried dough sticks – is a common breakfast dish in Thailand and usually consumed with sweetened condensed milk and coffee.

 

Source: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/03/03/avoid-popular-fried-dough-sticks-iced-tea-for-breakfast-health-official/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2023-03-04

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

Must be a joke...

People here are fond of so many dishes that I consider 'Ahan bpen phit', that it begs the question of why not having a list of at least 20 of bad food dishes.

This Deep-fried dough sticks might make it as part of that list.

In addition to the ubiquitous deep fried this and that, starting with deep fried chicken in local markets. Fried in cheap oils, in non hygienic conditions, re-used oils that have become toxic. And it smells bad. I can smell the deep fried at a distance in markets. Never wanted to taste any of it, and I have never tasted the so-called 'popular Pa Thong Ko fried dough'. Never knew that it existed.

Not that I am a fan of MacDonald, but when I enter to use the washroom, there is never a bad smell like in the markets. There are rules to follow in a MacDonald franchise. Including hygienic.

 

Oh well, some 7 years ago, I totally lost trust in any Thai cook and cooking. And that is part of the reason.

Other reasons include the use of refined sugar, and the major if not only food taste enhancer.

But quite uncanny that just the 'looks' of fried food act as a repellent for me, but it acts as a bait for so many people...

 

Do people really need to be told, fried (air) donuts aren't the healthiest choice.  Especially when palm oil is probably used.

 

Air instead of cake donuts, which are quite rare here.  Think the (cake) chocolate/coconut/nut donuts at Dunkin, but much better.

 

 Never ate 'air' donuts in the USA.

young kids, eat away!!!!  well, if you are also active like we were in the 1910's!!!  oh wait, maybe this generation is the laziest.... ok, maybe not.

 

no fried food

no sugar

no processed foods

low, low carbs

lean meat 

not as much fruit as you think

veggies until you are sick

fish

eggs

 

this is the life when you are old.    

 

absolutely helps, but it absolutely tastes worse than those bread things and 10 pizzas with a triple stack hamburger drenched in weird sauce and flushed down with a 2 liter coke and some wings with super hot sauce and a beer with the football game on and some chips just for fun while you get ready to pound some ice cream topped with everything possible just  before you have another beer and wonder where your English writing run-on sentences went..... 

Just now, KhunLA said:

Do people really need to be told, fried (air) donuts aren't the healthiest choice.  Especially when palm oil is probably used.

Heck deep fried donuts were brought to the office daily when I worked in the USA... and those had loads of sugary toppings or fillings!

Always trust your local health and nutrition expert. 

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Heck deep fried donuts were brought to the office daily when I worked in the USA... and those had loads of sugary toppings or fillings!

Explains a lot of health / weight issues over there.   You can easily eat 5 or more 'air/dough' donuts.   Eat 2 cake/batter donuts (also fried) and you're full.   More volume & 'nutrition, less sugar, and probably the same amount of oil absorbed, maybe a slight bit more when cooked.

 

Healthier & tastier donut ... IMO

 

Something like Krispy Kreme donuts here, addicting, and can polish off a whole box during the day, if no will power ... ????

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Heck deep fried donuts were brought to the office daily when I worked in the USA... and those had loads of sugary toppings or fillings!

Oh heck.....:)) The US is home to the largest (read fattest) race of humans on the globe......well maybe Tongan ladies might just beat them:)

Donuts are just a small part....but maybe that's what started American stuffing.

Now you have 2kg burgers and buckets of fries! Well done!

I am sure eating Pa Thong Ko every day for breakfast is not particularly healthy. Eating them occasionally will do no harm.

 

I occasionally buy 10 Baht worth to eat with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Yummy.

 

 

2 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

I am sure eating Pa Thong Ko every day for breakfast is not particularly healthy. Eating them occasionally will do no harm.

 

I occasionally buy 10 Baht worth to eat with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Yummy.

That a bit relative to the rest of your diet.  Especially if satisfying that sweet tooth daily.

 

I certainly didn't eat cheesecake every day, as that would be boring.   Switch off to brownies, pineapple pie, chocolate chip cookies, apple turnover/danish, pandan buns, ice cream, dessert roti, all during the week ????

4 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

Must be a joke...

People here are fond of so many dishes that I consider 'Ahan bpen phit', that it begs the question of why not having a list of at least 20 of bad food dishes.

This Deep-fried dough sticks might make it as part of that list.

In addition to the ubiquitous deep fried this and that, starting with deep fried chicken in local markets. Fried in cheap oils, in non hygienic conditions, re-used oils that have become toxic. And it smells bad. I can smell the deep fried at a distance in markets. Never wanted to taste any of it, and I have never tasted the so-called 'popular Pa Thong Ko fried dough'. Never knew that it existed.

Not that I am a fan of MacDonald, but when I enter to use the washroom, there is never a bad smell like in the markets. There are rules to follow in a MacDonald franchise. Including hygienic.

 

Oh well, some 7 years ago, I totally lost trust in any Thai cook and cooking. And that is part of the reason.

Other reasons include the use of refined sugar, and the major if not only food taste enhancer.

But quite uncanny that just the 'looks' of fried food act as a repellent for me, but it acts as a bait for so many people...

 

 

If you are worried about hygiene in Thailand then you're really in the wrong place. ????

That being said, I generally prefer street food to cheap restaurants - at least I can see what's being cooked.

 

 

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

I am sure eating Pa Thong Ko every day for breakfast is not particularly healthy. Eating them occasionally will do no harm.

 

I occasionally buy 10 Baht worth to eat with a cup of tea in the afternoon. Yummy.

 

 

Agree.  I am in my eighties and in fairly good physical health with a low BMI.  All my life I have

eaten a variety of ethnic foods, including so-called unhealthy foods.  Like you say, most individuals can handle them if eaten in moderation and not a substantial part of ones diet.

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Oh heck.....:)) The US is home to the largest (read fattest) race of humans on the globe......well maybe Tongan ladies might just beat them:)

Donuts are just a small part....but maybe that's what started American stuffing.

Now you have 2kg burgers and buckets of fries! Well done!

Each time I visit Thailand I notice there are more obese women.  Not a good sign.

Edited March 4, 20233 yr by Hawaiian
correction

The problem is expensive, sugared drinks.

4 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

Must be a joke...

People here are fond of so many dishes that I consider 'Ahan bpen phit', that it begs the question of why not having a list of at least 20 of bad food dishes.

This Deep-fried dough sticks might make it as part of that list.

In addition to the ubiquitous deep fried this and that, starting with deep fried chicken in local markets. Fried in cheap oils, in non hygienic conditions, re-used oils that have become toxic. And it smells bad. I can smell the deep fried at a distance in markets. Never wanted to taste any of it, and I have never tasted the so-called 'popular Pa Thong Ko fried dough'. Never knew that it existed.

Not that I am a fan of MacDonald, but when I enter to use the washroom, there is never a bad smell like in the markets. There are rules to follow in a MacDonald franchise. Including hygienic.

 

Oh well, some 7 years ago, I totally lost trust in any Thai cook and cooking. And that is part of the reason.

Other reasons include the use of refined sugar, and the major if not only food taste enhancer.

But quite uncanny that just the 'looks' of fried food act as a repellent for me, but it acts as a bait for so many people...

 

You must be a lot of fun at the dinner party table .

5 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Always trust your local health and nutrition expert. 

I trust my eyes, nose and gut...

Welcome to Thailand, deep fried everything covered in sugar and washed down with syrup.. No thanks.

Just seeing the color of the oil where they fry these things 24/7 days after days ..makes me want to vomit.

Maybe just avoid the 30 baht each ones in Chinatown. The 10 for 20baht option in your local area are just as good

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

That a bit relative to the rest of your diet.  Especially if satisfying that sweet tooth daily.

 

I certainly didn't eat cheesecake every day, as that would be boring.   Switch off to brownies, pineapple pie, chocolate chip cookies, apple turnover/danish, pandan buns, ice cream, dessert roti, all during the week ????

Hmm, very very occasionally a piece of cheesecake. In fact, you have given me an idea for tomorrow when I go to buy some milk at 7/11!

6 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Just seeing the color of the oil where they fry these things 24/7 days after days ..makes me want to vomit.

My local small town has two stalls. One changes his oil monthly, whether it needs it or not - his taste pretty foul, only tried them twice - the second time because I reasoned the first time was an aberration - it wasn't!

 

The other stall uses clean oil, and they are light and fluffy; as is the young lady who runs it!

Edited March 4, 20233 yr by herfiehandbag

6 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

Must be a joke...

People here are fond of so many dishes that I consider 'Ahan bpen phit', that it begs the question of why not having a list of at least 20 of bad food dishes.

This Deep-fried dough sticks might make it as part of that list.

In addition to the ubiquitous deep fried this and that, starting with deep fried chicken in local markets. Fried in cheap oils, in non hygienic conditions, re-used oils that have become toxic. And it smells bad. I can smell the deep fried at a distance in markets. Never wanted to taste any of it, and I have never tasted the so-called 'popular Pa Thong Ko fried dough'. Never knew that it existed.

Not that I am a fan of MacDonald, but when I enter to use the washroom, there is never a bad smell like in the markets. There are rules to follow in a MacDonald franchise. Including hygienic.

 

Oh well, some 7 years ago, I totally lost trust in any Thai cook and cooking. And that is part of the reason.

Other reasons include the use of refined sugar, and the major if not only food taste enhancer.

But quite uncanny that just the 'looks' of fried food act as a repellent for me, but it acts as a bait for so many people...

 

It's McDonald's bro. Just sayin'

4 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Hmm, very very occasionally a piece of cheesecake. In fact, you have given me an idea for tomorrow when I go to buy some milk at 7/11!

Actually have one of the better Cheesecakes here, the lighter blue seal, stating 'Baked' Cheesecake ????  Partial to their Black Forest also????

Just now, KhunLA said:

Actually have one of the better Cheesecakes here, the lighter blue seal, stating 'Baked' Cheesecake ????  Partial to their Black Forest also????

Haven't been for a walk in a Black Forest Gateaux for donkeys years!????

I cook for myself where ever i travel now.  Asian food might be tasty but rarely healthy. Everything is fried, or has sugar,msg, soyasause etc. I don't like it. Will cause stomach problems.

Meet my new friend

Edited March 4, 20233 yr by Don Chance

7 hours ago, webfact said:

they can provide too much energy and undermine health

Maybe i'll try feeding them to my Thai stepson, both a win win in my book! 555

7 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Now you have 2kg burgers and buckets of fries! Well done!

Well I am actually from the UK.... after a trip to UK for Xmas I brought back to USA a big tin of Quality Street chocolates for the office......when I left first day back it was 3/4 full, in the morning completely empty.. not even a one left. Big girls those cleaning staff!

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I trust my eyes, nose and gut...

Welcome to Thailand, deep fried everything covered in sugar and washed down with syrup.. No thanks.

I have eaten at restaurants here that specialize in serving healthy food like brown rice and dishes without nam pla and msg. 

8 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

I have eaten at restaurants here that specialize in serving healthy food like brown rice and dishes without nam pla and msg. 

Local Thais on a minimum budget don't have the finances to dine out like that.

They eat unhealthy street food and cheap sugary beverages plugged by the corporate machine.

Those same people later in life can be seen with the symptoms of a life long poor diet.

Farang criticizing Thai cuisine and eating habits.

Richly ironic. 

17 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

Each time I visit Thailand I notice there are more obese women.  Not a good sign.

Absolutely. In the 25 years or so women and men and kids, have grown....once we would rarely see an overweight young lady.....now the butts are growing!