Thai food’s bold blend of flavours: A culinary delight with a fatal bite

[webfact]

 

Food in Thailand is renowned worldwide for its rich and diverse flavours, combining elements of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in unique and harmonious ways – but there’s one dish that could be fatal.

 

Millions of tourists flock to the Land of Smiles every year to experience the nation’s country’s vibrant culture, blending influences from China, India, Malaysia, and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

 

Among the plethora of delectable Thai dishes that whet the appetite, such as Pad Thai, Tom Yum soup, and Thai green chicken curry, there is one that demands caution – a dish so perilous that even a solitary mouthful could lead to liver cancer.

This carcinogenic creation is so deadly that it is believed to claim the lives of a staggering 20,000 people in Thailand annually.

While you are unlikely to encounter this treacherous delicacy on your local Thai takeaway menu, it enjoys immense popularity in the Thai province of Khon Kaen. Known as koi pla, it comprises minced raw fish blended with herbs, spices, and lemon juice, forming a dish relished by millions of Thai people, especially in Isaan, one of the nation’s most impoverished provinces.

 

by Bob Scott

Koi Pla picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-foods-bold-blend-of-flavours-a-culinary-delight-with-a-fatal-bite

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-13

 

- 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.

 

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[Gottfrid]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

While you are unlikely to encounter this treacherous delicacy on your local Thai takeaway menu, it enjoys immense popularity in the Thai province of Khon Kaen. Known as koi pla, it comprises minced raw fish blended with herbs, spices, and lemon juice, forming a dish relished by millions of Thai people, especially in Isaan, one of the nation’s most impoverished provinces.

Yep, here we have it again. The region with the perfect cuisine. Even if they are told there is a parasite that causes cancer in almost all of Thailands inland lake, rivers and floods they are too undereducated to understand. Besides that they do not believe what they are told anyway. They know they should not eat the fish raw. There have been lots of information, but they just don´t care.

[kwilco]

21 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yep, here we have it again. The region with the perfect cuisine. Even if they are told there is a bacteria that causes cancer in almost all of Thailands inland lake, rivers and floods they are too undereducated to understand. Besides that they do not believe what they are told anyway. They know they should not eat the fish raw. There have been lots of information, but they just don´t care.

Not a bacteria...its a parasite...liver fluke. 

This has been known about fit decades and linked to liver cancer.

The problem is its a bit like smoking.... people know its harmful but the damage is over a long period and incremental..so there is a temptation to continue.

[Gottfrid]

7 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Not a bacteria...its a parasite...liver fluke. 

This has been known about fit decades and linked to liver cancer.

The problem is its a bit like smoking.... people know its harmful but the damage is over a long period and incremental..so there is a temptation to continue.

Ok parasite. Whatever, it will kill you. Corrected. ???? 

[spidermike007]

My woman tells me the trick is to avoid Koi Pla made with raw fish. She says many know that, and follow that rule. Any time raw fish is left to the elements, there is a danger. If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower. Same applies to meat.

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower. Same applies to meat.

Perhaps so, but raw fish, straight from the water can also come with plenty of parasites...I would think avoiding raw fish (and other meats) is a safer approach. I have also heard of negative comments relating to the much loved and eaten Som Tam, some versions of which contain small raw crabs.

[spidermike007]

40 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps so, but raw fish, straight from the water can also come with plenty of parasites...I would think avoiding raw fish (and other meats) is a safer approach. I have also heard of negative comments relating to the much loved and eaten Som Tam, some versions of which contain small raw crabs.

I forgot where I read it, but I remember seeing an article about the high rate of GERD here, and other stomach and intestinal disorders, brought on by Som Tam, raw meats, fermented eggs, dried shrimp, and some of the other bizarre and other worldly foods popular in Issan, and eaten by folks from Issan often. They even attributed a higher rate of premature death, from some of these foods. 

[Stevemercer]

My wife, an Isan Thai, will not eat Japanese food because it may contain raw fish.

 

However, she happily devours Isan delicacies such as raw prawns, crabs, beef and pork, along with sauces made with raw freshwater scaled fish (source of liver flukes).

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

They know they should not eat the fish raw. There have been lots of information, but they just don´t care.

That pretty much sums up the Thai attitude about anything. Take a chance, doesn't apply to me. Especially the way they drive. And especially at railway crossings where a red light is considered a suggestion and not an order to stop.

[Bangkok Barry]

17 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I forgot where I read it, but I remember seeing an article about the high rate of GERD here, and other stomach and intestinal disorders, brought on by Som Tam, raw meats, fermented eggs, dried shrimp, and some of the other bizarre and other worldly foods popular in Issan, and eaten by folks from Issan often. They even attributed a higher rate of premature death, from some of these foods. 

You could have added frog and rat to the list, both of which have made family members sick at some stage. And take a look at what they sell in the frozen meats area of Makro. It's a different world to what we know.

[SiSePuede419]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

My woman tells me the trick is to avoid Koi Pla made with raw fish. She says many know that, and follow that rule. Any time raw fish is left to the elements, there is a danger. If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower. Same applies to meat.

My wife told me the same thing and fried this dish for me when her family ate it raw.

But then at an upscale Thai restaurant she eats raw salmon.  A lot of it maybe a quarter kilo. ????

 

I only eat "raw" fish when it's "cooked" in lime juice or vinegar with salt and only in America at top Italian restaurants.  Never eat sushi in Thailand OMG 

Life's too short to see flukes crawling out your ears after they've been feasting on your brain. ????

[SiSePuede419]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower.

Actually all raw sushi in America is frozen then thawed.  By law.  Freezing kills the parasites.  Yuck.

[kwilco]

2 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

My wife told me the same thing and fried this dish for me when her family ate it raw.

But then at an upscale Thai restaurant she eats raw salmon.  A lot of it maybe a quarter kilo. ????

 

I only eat "raw" fish when it's "cooked" in lime juice or vinegar with salt and only in America at top Italian restaurants.  Never eat sushi in Thailand OMG 

Life's too short to see flukes crawling out your ears after they've been feasting on your brain. ????

Yeah, that's not what happens.

[BritManToo]

"Thai food’s bold blend of flavours: A culinary delight with a fatal bite"

 

Don't like it, prefer not to eat it.

The bite is to cover the taste of the meat they left out of the fridge for a day or two before cooking it.

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok parasite. Whatever, it will kill you. Corrected. ???? 

Well no - the parasite causes inflmation of the bile dus=ct - if this isn't dealt with, then it repeated inflamation can lead to cancers in the liver - which in turn has to be left untreated.

Another way is through  eating raw watercress or other water plants ....I'm sure many people on this thread think that salads are healthy too.

[arick]

Old news.  The doctors in kk cut out their livers to make money research shows that having livers removed doesn't increased life expectancies. But what is interesting is that endocrinetumors in Kk are only around 4-6 per year.  

[arick]

Take deworming pills every year. You need to take 3 in a go.  

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

My woman tells me the trick is to avoid Koi Pla made with raw fish. She says many know that, and follow that rule. Any time raw fish is left to the elements, there is a danger. If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower. Same applies to meat.

No - this is a parasite already in the animal - storage is usually a risk of bacteria,

Freezing for a long period in low temps will kill thr parasites - but they don't breed like bacteria - their life cycle is like something from alien.

[Andrew65]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

My woman tells me the trick is to avoid Koi Pla made with raw fish. She says many know that, and follow that rule. Any time raw fish is left to the elements, there is a danger. If it is kept refrigerated, the chances of sickness are much lower. Same applies to meat.

That would apply to any meat. Part of why I never ate meat-based street food in Thailand (or anywhere). We don't know if the meat has been refrigerated in the hot weather. 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Millions of tourists flock to the Land of Smiles every year to experience the nation’s country’s vibrant culture, blending influences from China, India, Malaysia, and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

 

[kwilco]

31 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

You could have added frog and rat to the list,

AAFAIK they don't carry this parasite and would have to be eaten raw.

[HappyExpat57]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

"relished by millions of Thai people, especially in Isaan"

Nuff said.

[Rimmer]

A post and a reply contravening our Community Standards has been removed.    

[VBF]

25 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Actually all raw sushi in America is frozen then thawed.  By law.  Freezing kills the parasites.  Yuck.

Slightly but in UK almost no restaurants will serve burgers RARE. Why? Because a government ministry has advised (not instructed) that minced meat may not be properly cooked on all sides unless it's well done. Restaurants are therefore scared of being sued if someone gets sick after eating a rare burger!

If Thailand is the land of scams (if!) UK is the land of OTT Health & Safety - almost a polar opposite to Thailand, in fact.

    

[SiSePuede419]

24 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Yeah, that's not what happens.

Where did you go to medical school?  Is it too late to get a refund? ????

https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/brain-infections/parasitic-brain-infections

[Bim Smith]

More than Covid and they didn't lockdown the country or close it for two years

[kwilco]

2 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Where did you go to medical school?  Is it too late to get a refund? ????

https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/brain-infections/parasitic-brain-infections

You need to learn to read medical papers - th eparasite in question is the liver fluke - the clue is in the name

[kwilco]

4 minutes ago, VBF said:

Slightly but in UK almost no restaurants will serve burgers RARE. Why? Because a government ministry has advised (not instructed) that minced meat may not be properly cooked on all sides unless it's well done. Restaurants are therefore scared of being sued if someone gets sick after eating a rare burger!

If Thailand is the land of scams (if!) UK is the land of OTT Health & Safety - almost a polar opposite to Thailand, in fact.

    

Minced meat  is a bacteria problem - bacteria settle on thr outside of meat - if it is then minced into a burger the bactris are mixed to the inside of the burger where they can multiple if not cooked through..... unlike a rare steak.

[kimamey]

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

"Thai food’s bold blend of flavours: A culinary delight with a fatal bite"

 

Don't like it, prefer not to eat it.

The bite is to cover the taste of the meat they left out of the fridge for a day or two before cooking it.

Some is ok but I can't eat it if it's too spicy. If I try it then I can't taste anything else.

 

Spices were used a lot in Britain many years ago for the reason you mention, to cover the taste of rotten food before they were able to cool it to slow down the deterioration. I suspect that's why food in Isaan is claimed to be extra spicy. Being the poorest region in Thailand over the years means that refrigeration came later, hence the need for spicy food.

 

Fortunately the young are realising the delights of KFC and McDonalds. ????

[kwilco]

there seems to be a lot of confusion between bacteria and parasites - and how they are transmitted - eating certain species like rats or frogs is not the pt=roblem - if they are not correctly killed and stored there may be bacterial problems but that applies for any animals - this article ia about the transmission of liver fluke parasites through eating raw fish - it can also be transmitted in other ways.

THis problem in thailand was identified decades ago.

So are not going to eat a dish of this and just drop dead of cancer - or even feel ill the next day - it takes time and probably repeated doses even to get the parasite.