Thai FDA Pressured to Tackle Contaminated Grape Import Scandal

[webfact]

 

The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the alarming discovery of chemical contamination in Shine Muscat grapes. Almost all samples tested revealed unsafe levels of forbidden substances, prompting calls for immediate action.

 

Last week, laboratory tests on 23 out of 24 grape samples showed contamination with unsafe chemical residues, including chlorpyrifos and endrin aldehyde, which are prohibited under Thai food safety regulations. The TCC, led by secretary-general Saree Aongsomwang, is advocating for legal measures against the importers responsible for these tainted grapes. They further demand that any undisturbed imports undergo rigorous examination and destruction if contaminated.

 

Ms Saree urged importers to recall their potentially harmful products for thorough inspection and called for a ban on companies implicated in knowingly importing contaminated goods. The tested grape samples were procured from various sources including online vendors, fresh markets, and modern trade enterprises across Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces.

 

The lab results revealed 14 problematic chemicals exceeding the legal safety limit of 0.01 mg/kg. Furthermore, a total of 50 chemical residues were detected, of which 22 remain unregulated by Thai law. This discovery includes substances like triasulfuron and fludioxonil.

 

FDA secretary-general Surachoke Tangwiwat acknowledged the findings, pointing out that while 36 of the detected residues were within safe limits, there isn’t sufficient information on the risks posed by 14 others. He advised consumers to thoroughly wash fruits before consumption.

 

Dr Surachoke reaffirmed the FDA's dedication to consumer protection, assuring that contaminated imports will be confiscated and legal proceedings initiated against importers. The contamination scare has led to consumer avoidance of the Shine Muscat grapes, causing vendors, like Thaworn Prommee from Nakhon Ratchasima, significant financial losses and spoilage of stocks previously in high demand.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikimedia

 

-- 2024-10-28

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Wondering, if Oman Air now is being banned to fly into Thailand as they must be responsible for the Muscat grapes ........... 

To make it crystal clear, above is a cheeky comment and the whole story has absolutely nothing to do with Oman Air 8-) 

[sammieuk1]

Only found this out last week after consuming a shed load of buy one get one free from Tesco and Villa Market near lime size delicious grapes had a cocktail of toxins hidden within  🤔  

[Lorry]

For years I have been seeing with dismay, supermarkets here full with agricultural products from temperate climates - apples, grapes, cabbages, peas.

It's rarely stated where these things come from - of course,  they all come from China. 

I never put something from China in my mouth.

China is the country where they sold Melamin as baby formula, and where they use gutter oil, the examples are endless.

Chinese who can afford it do like I do. They only use imported food, especially for their babies.

[Presnock]

14 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Only found this out last week after consuming a shed load of buy one get one free from Tesco and Villa Market near lime size delicious grapes had a cocktail of toxins hidden within  🤔  Tops too had the same deal - we stll have some in the fridge so tossed them this AM 

[NanLaew]

I have bought a couple of boxes these "Shine Muscat" grapes over the past 2-3 weeks from my local Makro. I would assume by now they've been removed, if they hadn't already sold out.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the alarming discovery of chemical contamination in Shine Muscat grapes. Almost all samples tested revealed unsafe levels of forbidden substances, prompting calls for immediate action

Only the grapes... RDA are well aware of may products with high levels of chemicals.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The lab results revealed 14 problematic chemicals exceeding the legal safety limit of 0.01 mg/kg. Furthermore, a total of 50 chemical residues were detected, of which 22 remain unregulated by Thai law. This discovery includes substances like triasulfuron and fludioxonil.

Safety last

[hotchilli]

49 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I never put something from China in my mouth

Food that is... 

[RayOday]

These grapes were being sold too cheaply, a signal. They are delicious but too uniform in size, juiciness, and flavor. I bought one pack. I won't anymore. Given we are in Thailand where they're is liberal use of dangerous pesticides I offer the following suggestion.

Follow the recommendation of Rutgers University Agricultural School. 

Rutgers research, entitled "NR Green Cleaning"  indicates that using a baking soda solution can effectively remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables. A study found that soaking apples in a baking soda solution for two minutes removed more pesticides than rinsing with water or using bleach. The recommended method involves mixing two tablespoons of baking soda per quart of water, soaking the produce for about 10-15 minutes, and then rinsing thoroughly.

This approach leverages baking soda's alkalinity to neutralize acidic pesticide residues on the surface of the produce.

 

[John Drake]

Just saw grapes on offer at Gourmet Market the other day. Glad I passed them by. Almost bought some.

[aussienam]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Safety last

Bring on the cancer and Parkinson's diaease.  Thank you China.  And thanks to the greed of vendors selling it into Thailand.  

I bought 1kg off the back of a Song Taew the other day.  Great.  I rinsed them with water but probably ingested a good dose of cancer and disease causing poisons. Thanks you a$$h***s.

[Lee4Life]

Nice article to read when I've just eaten a bunch of them, never seen them up here in NongKhai before, and here they were at the super popular Sunday night market, cheap and tasty, no wonder.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, RayOday said:

This approach leverages baking soda's alkalinity to neutralize acidic pesticide residues on the surface of the produce.

But not what's on the inside.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, aussienam said:

Bring on the cancer and Parkinson's diaease.  Thank you China.  And thanks to the greed of vendors selling it into Thailand.  

I bought 1kg off the back of a Song Taew the other day.  Great.  I rinsed them with water but probably ingested a good dose of cancer and disease causing poisons. Thanks you a$$h***s.

Never buy fruit that originates from China... especially the bananas.

[NowNow]

On 10/28/2024 at 6:27 AM, RayOday said:

These grapes were being sold too cheaply, a signal. They are delicious but too uniform in size, juiciness, and flavor. I bought one pack. I won't anymore. Given we are in Thailand where they're is liberal use of dangerous pesticides I offer the following suggestion.

Follow the recommendation of Rutgers University Agricultural School. 

Rutgers research, entitled "NR Green Cleaning"  indicates that using a baking soda solution can effectively remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables. A study found that soaking apples in a baking soda solution for two minutes removed more pesticides than rinsing with water or using bleach. The recommended method involves mixing two tablespoons of baking soda per quart of water, soaking the produce for about 10-15 minutes, and then rinsing thoroughly.

This approach leverages baking soda's alkalinity to neutralize acidic pesticide residues on the surface of the produce.

 

 

I've been doing that for years now. I allow  them to soak for at least fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Just realised your quote states much the same 😊

[NowNow]

On 10/28/2024 at 6:41 AM, John Drake said:

Just saw grapes on offer at Gourmet Market the other day. Glad I passed them by. Almost bought some.

 

They had some old ones at a local market for 50 baht per kg, the day before this article was published. I'm glad that I gave them a miss/swerve.

[john donson]

organic or high price does not mean anything here...

[SmartyMarty]

Tops still selling them as of today. Why?

[John Drake]

24 minutes ago, SmartyMarty said:

Tops still selling them as of today. Why?

 

Because it will be a cold day in Hell before they lose money on the deal.

[Maestro]

Removed a post making an allegation without quoting the source.