Thai Restaurants In EU In Need Of Thai Vegetables

[webfact]

Thai restaurants in EU in need of Thai vegetables

BANGKOK, 25 January 2011 (NNT) – Thai restaurants in Europe are facing shortage of Thai vegetables and herbs after exports of some Thai vegetables have been halted temporarily, according to the Department of Export Promotion (DEP).

DEP Director-General Nuntawan Sakuntanaga reported that Thai restaurants in Europe, especially in the UK at present were now lacking ingredients for cooking because prices of some vegetables had been shooting up due to shortage in the market.

Ms Nuntawan admitted that Thai restaurants in Europe had no choice but to buy vegetables exported from other countries such as Laos, Vietnam and the Netherlands.

The director-general hence warned that related units should urgently solve the problem of Thai vegetable exports; otherwise, Thailand might lose its vegetable market share in Europe. Besides, a delay could affect the government campaign to encourage Thai restaurants overseas to use only Thai ingredients.

Exports of 16 kinds of Thai vegetables, such as sweet basil, chilli and eggplants, have been temporarily halted due to frequent findings of quarantine pests in their shipment.

-- NNT 2011-01-25

[bangon04]

Finding pests and other stuff in the Thai vegetables just proves that they are organic, so Thailand is rightly positioning itself as the hub of organic produce.

What are the europeans complaining about now?

[Bagwan]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

[Hawaiian]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

Yes, technically you are correct. Many traditional ethnic dishes would be very uninteresting without "imported" ingredients. Once a new vegetable or fruit becomes widely accepted, it is eventually incorporated into the local cuisine. It is given a local name and its origin usually forgotten as the host country considers it a native food.

Tomatoes and corn introduced by the Spanish are major staples in the Philippines. The potato is another example of an imported food that many countries claim as their own. The list is endless.

[wintermute]

Yes, technically you are correct. Many traditional ethnic dishes would be very uninteresting without "imported" ingredients. Once a new vegetable or fruit becomes widely accepted, it is eventually incorporated into the local cuisine. It is given a local name and its origin usually forgotten as the host country considers it a native food.

Tomatoes and corn introduced by the Spanish are major staples in the Philippines. The potato is another example of an imported food that many countries claim as their own. The list is endless.

Spaniards got maize (corn) and tomatoes from the Americas. It was already a staple of native cooking for thousands of years, so it didn't originate from Spain either. A lot of vegetables actually came from the "new world" continent and were introduced to Europe.

Edited January 25, 2011 by wintermute

[jybkk]

Finding pests and other stuff in the Thai vegetables just proves that they are organic, so Thailand is rightly positioning itself as the hub of organic produce.

What are the europeans complaining about now?

No, it doesn't.

The only thing it proves is that Thai controls before export are sloppy.

You can find pests in non organic food too. It could come from inappropriate use of pesticide, transfer from other vegetables stocked nearby, etc.

These pests represent a great health and ecological hazard for Europe as they might be species inexistant over there from which people and environment are unprotected.

[Hawaiian]

Yes, technically you are correct. Many traditional ethnic dishes would be very uninteresting without "imported" ingredients. Once a new vegetable or fruit becomes widely accepted, it is eventually incorporated into the local cuisine. It is given a local name and its origin usually forgotten as the host country considers it a native food.

Tomatoes and corn introduced by the Spanish are major staples in the Philippines. The potato is another example of an imported food that many countries claim as their own. The list is endless.

Spaniards got maize (corn) and tomatoes from the Americas. It was already a staple of native cooking for thousands of years, so it didn't originate from Spain either. A lot of vegetables actually came from the "new world" continent and were introduced to Europe.

I know that corn (maize), potatoes and tomatoes were New World plants. The Spanish had an established trade route

between Acapulco and Manila. They introduced these plants to the Philippines along with their religion and culture. As a history buff and former grower of exotic tropical fruits and plants I am quite familiar about the origin of what has been introduced elsewhere.

When searching for biological controls it is very important to know where to start. This is just one of the reasons to know where a plant originally evolved.

[webfact]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

clarification:

OP was published by NNT - National News Bureau of Thailand - the official Govt News agency and not by The NATION

[geriatrickid]

Finding pests and other stuff in the Thai vegetables just proves that they are organic, so Thailand is rightly positioning itself as the hub of organic produce.

What are the europeans complaining about now?

No, it doesn't.

The only thing it proves is that Thai controls before export are sloppy.

You can find pests in non organic food too. It could come from inappropriate use of pesticide, transfer from other vegetables stocked nearby, etc.

These pests represent a great health and ecological hazard for Europe as they might be species inexistant over there from which people and environment are unprotected.

You are correct. The introduction of non native insects, fish plants and pathogens has wrecked havoc on the ecosystems of the receipient nations. People do not realize that fungus and mold spores hitch rides on food imports. Without the use of pesticides and fungicides these dangerous organisms can take hold in environments that have no natural defenses.

There is a false assumption that organic means cleaner and healthier. Little do the people that make this assumption realize that the likelihood of contracting a fatal strain of e.coli is higher with some alleged "organic" foods. One of my favourite lines a public health official gave when he was being grilled at a public hearing and was asked by an irate member of the public, what did people do before the introduction of antimicrobrials and other chemicals? He responded; They died young. So very true.

[007]

Ms Nuntawan admitted that Thai restaurants in Europe had no choice but to buy vegetables exported from other countries such as Laos, Vietnam and the Netherlands.

OMG! So the overseas Thais will have to eat un-Thai vegetables from (yuck) Lao and from falang countries like Hollan'... (Is there any limit to racism? How are Asian vegetables and herbs from Laos different from the ones in Thailand, I wonder.)

How about: Icelanders - eat only Icelandic bananas...

[jsflynn603]

Little do the people that make this assumption realize that the likelihood of contracting a fatal strain of e.coli is higher with some alleged "organic" foods.

If this is true, it is true only because said foods came from a geographical area where reservoirs (people or animals who are infected with E Coli O157:H7) are more common than other locations.

The problem with O157:H7 and with E. coli generally is that they are highly mobile bacteria, they have flagellum so they can swim quite effectively. This is why women are much more prone to urinary tract infections than men, it is simply that the distance to the bladder is much greater in males and any E. coli gets washed out before reaching the bladder (female urethra ~20mm, male urethra ~250mm :>). O157:H7 is often referrred to as Hemorrhagic E Coli, and is a serious form of food poisoning which is transferred most commonly by poor hygiene of produce pickers or handlers, but which can be present via other means such as grazing animals (melons commonly become infective by this method).

Anti-bacterial washing or soaking offers little protection because the bacteria swim so effectively. Commonly they will invade the phloem of vegetables. Phloem are the equivalent to our blood vessels, and include fluid filled tubes that E. Coli can enter via a tiny nick or cut in the vegetable such as lettuce or a melon and the bacteria can easily swim half an inch or more into this tube. Bleach soaks and washed are highly ineffective at destroying this pest. Only irradiation is highly effective.

The "pests" are not named, but by looking at the list of affected vegetables I'd guess that thrips are a major problem, at least affecting eggplant and chili peppers (one pest is called the Chili Trip in Europe). These thrips and the associated wasps that are involved in their life cycle are totally harmless to humans but can devastate crops in areas where they do not exist.

In America my small city was once called "Elm City" and its streets were lined with magnificent umbrella shaped, huge Elm trees. Dutch Elm disease was introduced via an accidentally imported beetle which bores into Elm trees, the beetle is harmless, but harbors a fungus which, over time, was always fatal to the trees. Only recently has someone searched for and hybridized an Elm that is resistant.

Preventing introduction of pests is all the more important because pests are developing pesticide resistance. Organic (which can mean many things) is a great idea and the prevention of pest introduction is the pre-eminent organic method--there is no need to use a pesticide for a pest that does not exist in that geographical area.

[Hawaiian]

Ms Nuntawan admitted that Thai restaurants in Europe had no choice but to buy vegetables exported from other countries such as Laos, Vietnam and the Netherlands.

OMG! So the overseas Thais will have to eat un-Thai vegetables from (yuck) Lao and from falang countries like Hollan'... (Is there any limit to racism? How are Asian vegetables and herbs from Laos different from the ones in Thailand, I wonder.)

How about: Icelanders - eat only Icelandic bananas...

My wife has no problem selling our kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass and galanga from my garden. Quite sure the Thai restaurant owners would rather buy fresh off the farm produce from a falang than imported stuff of questionable quality. They would also buy chilis and Thai basil from me if I could raise them. These vegetables don't do well at our elevation (3,900 ft/1170 meters).

My wife never solicits. It's the restaurant owners that keep coming back.

[ourmanflint]

I was wondering what had happened as there has been no Thai Basil etc anywhere in Londons Chinatown since November. We haven't had a decent Phat Krapao since then, so life is hardly worth living. A few shops are starting to import from Vietnam now, but the quality is not as good, and basil is almost dead and blackens within 48 hours.

Thailands exporters will lose ground permanently when someone wises up to the problem in Holland or Africa and supplants them.

So is the reason for this pests or is it price? There seems to be some confusion. Where's the hungry smiley?

[MrWizard]

Even in Holland the Thai-vegetables are out of stock. There will be large imports from Vietnam in a month or so, until then no veggies or herbs. I can confirm that sometimes the taste is different, due to different soil, but not for all veggies or herbs.

Before the Thai vegetables and herbs were high quality, now there is more average quality. Do not forget that vegetables and herbs from Europe are almost not checked in the EU, so even in the EU are large amounts of agricultural-chemicals possible, but nobody will tell you...because it from the inside market. (for example raisins, oranges, tomatoes, grapes, etc...)

[spirit47]

Finding pests and other stuff in the Thai vegetables just proves that they are organic, so Thailand is rightly positioning itself as the hub of organic produce.

What are the europeans complaining about now?

No, it doesn't.

The only thing it proves is that Thai controls before export are sloppy.

You can find pests in non organic food too. It could come from inappropriate use of pesticide, transfer from other vegetables stocked nearby, etc.

These pests represent a great health and ecological hazard for Europe as they might be species inexistant over there from which people and environment are unprotected.

Don't know where you get your informations about organic food in Thailand, fact is they use poison a lot and it's difficult to find certified organic food.

It's good, that the EU stop this, maybe it will help, that Thais going to organic farming. The Japanese and some big Users like Hospitals have organic farmers under contract, so it is not available on the market. Open your eyes and look where organic food in the Departement Stores come from. The rice I buy sometimes from Amway, apples from New Zeeland, Passionfruit I get from Exportcompany and salat I buy Wednesday on Ban Fa Market.

Everytime I look for good organic food and last time I visit a farm and see some empty plasticbottles from Bayer...

[Bagwan]

I find it of interest that the Spanish and Portuguese introduced new fruits and vegetables from the New World and that the UK gets the blame for tobacco.

[tigermonkey]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth or reality .

Dont knock the Thais for having "little regard for the truth". Your statements about the eggplant show a similar bias for being invented in Britain . Eggplant is not "properly called aubergine" except by the British.

In India, which was the original source of eggplant, the proper name for eggplant, in English, is brinjal -- in USA, Canada, and Australia the proper name is eggpalnt.

That is the "truth" and "reality".

Edited January 26, 2011 by tigermonkey

[khaowong1]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

well said Bagwan, well said.

[khaowong1]

Although basil is grown in tropical Asian countries and itis know that it has been in culinary use for 5,00 years. it can hardly be calleda native of Thailand.Sweet basil is used mainly in Italyand the variety used locally is known as Thai basil, an entirely differentstrain. Eggplant, properly called aubergine, is a native of the sub-continent.Chili, the fruit from capsicum, comes from South Americaand was introduced to Europe and then these parts by thePortuguese. The notion that these are Thai vegetables is very wide of the mark.

The Nation is yet again the hub of misinformation, in thiscase understandably, since Thais have little regard for the truth – or reality .

Dont knock the Thais for having "little regard for the truth". Your statements about the eggplant show a similar bias for being invented in Britain . Eggplant is not "properly called aubergine" except by the British.

In India, which was the original source of eggplant, the proper name for eggplant, in English, is brinjal -- in USA, Canada, and Australia the proper name is eggpalnt.

That is the "truth" and "reality".

A rose by any other name is still a rose.

[livil]

.

. Eggplant is not "properly called aubergine" except by the British.

In India, which was the original source of eggplant, the proper name for eggplant, in English, is brinjal -- in USA, Canada, and Australia the proper name is eggpalnt.

That is the "truth" and "reality".

except by the british???

aubergine is a french word !!

(in portugese bringella , hindi brinjal or baingal ......similar enough to you?)

comes come catalan ( in spain) albergina

which in turn comes from arabic al-badinjan

from the persian badin-gan

which in turn comes from Sanskrit vatin-ganah ( back to india where it comes from where translation would be something like "stop wind " literaly the plant to stop farting. no kidding )

loads of similarities in the name

but here stands apart .....you guessed it "eggplant" !

nowadays used mostly in northern america but eggplant was firstly used in europe in the 18th century to design the white round type and not the elongated ones .

so aubergine or eggplant ?

aubergine seems to have a lot more history to me but please call it whatever you want for all i care . i dont even like the bloody fruit ( yep not a veg but a fruit) . who eats aubergine anyways ;-)

can someone restart a soccer / football debate please ;-)

Edited January 27, 2011 by livil

[pogal]

Wasn't there an article a month or two ago about the levels of chemicals in Thai vegetables exceeded the EU limit!!????

But now if they are "forced" to buy them I guess its ok....

Here it is again in today's news:

Edited January 27, 2011 by pogal