Most Fish Sauces In Thailand Have 'unsafe' Levels Of Preservatives

[webfact]

Most fish sauces have 'unsafe' levels of preservatives
The Nation

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BANGKOK: -- Most fish sauces and many mixed fish sauces on store shelves across the country contain levels of preservatives that fail to meet safety standards, according to the results of a study released Thursday.

The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) surveyed the quality of fish sauces and mixed fish sauces sold in fresh markets and department stores nationwide.

It collected 471 samples produced by 118 manufacturers in February and March.

Of the samples, 242 were fish sauces priced at Bt10-Bt45, and 229 were mixed fish sauces costing Bt6-Bt18.

The survey found that only 62.8 per cent of fish sauces and 37.1 per cent of mixed fish sauces met safety standards.

For fish sauces, price didn't appear to be a guarantee of quality. The study found examples of sub-standard products among both expensive (Bt30-Bt40) and inexpensive (Bt10-Bt20) fish sauces.

About 45.4 per cent of fish sauces priced at Bt21-Bt29 did not meet the standards.

"We found that most fish sauces and [many] mixed fish sauces contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was either higher or lower than the standard," DMS director-general Dr Niphon Phophattanachai said.

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

About 4.5 per cent of samples contained a level of benzoic acid or preservative agent higher than the standard.


-- The Nation 2013-05-09

[laurentbkk]

nothing is better than a good old sea salt ....

[GentlemanJim]

Surely the DMS need to publish a list of those products that fail to meet the safety standard so that people can have a choice to avoid the unsafe product.

[Thai at Heart]

And?

I only find half a story here.

[GentlemanJim]

nothing is better than a good old sea salt ....

Have a read here

http://www.dfwx.com/gourmet.html

The cheap end sea salts are normally the by product of desalination plants and can be very bad for you as they also contain high levels of contaminants.

[rucus7]

Lets not rush to judgement here. I love my prik nam pla.

[Neilly]

I presume they didn't bother testing any of that Pla ra...that stuff can kill at forty paces

[aguy30]

Most fish sauces have 'unsafe' levels of preservatives is hardly justified by "The survey found that only 62.8 per cent of fish sauces and 37.1 per cent of mixed fish sauces met safety standards." "About 45.4 per cent of fish sauces priced at Bt21-Bt29 did not meet the standards" and that 54.6 per cent or MOST did meet the standard. The rest of the data doesn't make sense in the totals reported. Poorly written report.

What's the point of doing the testing when nothing will be done to correct the problem?

A list of name brands sold in super markets that meet the standard would have been nice.

Edited May 9, 2013 by aguy30

[Thai at Heart]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[aguy30]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

What about the extra MSG that Thai's often add in addition to the fish sauce?

Glutamic Acid - It Is Not MSG or Monosodium Glutamate or is it? Glutamic acid is a 'non-essential' classified amino acid that is very common in plants and animals. Besides being a building block of protein, glutamic acid is vital in the transmission of nerve impulses, and is even manufactured in the brain. Will they declare chicken breasts and salmon to be unsafe.

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=207

Edited May 9, 2013 by aguy30

[Thai at Heart]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

What about the extra MSG that Thai's often add in addition the fish sauce?

Well exactly. If this is the case, can they legally put a maximum of sugar, salt and all this other stuff that appears to be around in a profusion in Thai processed food. Since when is MSG classed as a preservative? All a bit weird.

[Thai at Heart]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

What about the extra MSG that Thai's often add in addition to the fish sauce?

Glutamic Acid - It Is Not MSG or Monosodium Glutamate or is it? Glutamic acid is a 'non-essential' classified amino acid that is very common in plants and animals. Besides being a building block of protein, glutamic acid is vital in the transmission of nerve impulses, and is even manufactured in the brain. Will they declare chicken breasts and salmon to be unsafe.

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=207

So what does the ratio of glutamic acid with nitrogen have to do with preservatives?

And wouldn't it be naturally occurring in fish oil, in which case how does it vary so much without being adulterated?

Edited May 9, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[lungmi]

Most fish sauces never saw a fish, sorry only in the aquarium of the factory

[lee b]

Will have to let the wife know. She has about 500 bottles of this crap in the kitchen cupboard !

[Locationthailand]

If you ever saw ow it was made you would run the other direction. It is also linked quite substantially with cancer as a catalyst.

[maidu]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

Who has read the labels of bottled sauces sold in stores? I have. Essentially none are without MSG. I buy Kikoman soy sauce, made in Japan, because it doesn't have MSG.

Thais are to healthy foods what redwoods are to coral reefs. They're miles apart.

[Thai at Heart]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

Who has read the labels of bottled sauces sold in stores? I have. Essentially none are without MSG. I buy Kikoman soy sauce, made in Japan, because it doesn't have MSG.

Thais are to healthy foods what redwoods are to coral reefs. They're miles apart.

There are some that claim to be msg free, but again since when would glutamic acid be classed as a preservative?

[billoutt]

.

The fish sauces that I've 'tasted' are so hot that I doubt that any bugs could live in them anyway, never mind preservatives.

Edited May 12, 2013 by metisdead
Large font reset to normal.

[Fgis]

They want to be sure to kill us !

When we do not "suicide" by jumping from balcony we will die eating their food...

Land of scam ! really !

[webfact]

Only 62.8% of real fish sauces found to meet standard

BANGKOK, 10 May 2013 (NNT) – An inspection of fish sauces sold nationwide has revealed that only 62.8% of the samples from ‘real’ fish sauce passed the set standard, whereas the passing rate for ‘mixed’ fish sauce was even much lower.

According to the Medical Sciences Department, out of the collected 242 samples of real fish sauces and 229 samples of ‘mixed’ fish sauces produced by 118 manufacturers, just a bit more than half of the real fish sauces passed the mark, and only 37.1% of mixed fish sauces met the standard.

Department director-general Niphon Phophatthanachai said the substandard sauces contained either more or less glutamic acid than recommended or contained too much preservative. He explained however that the amount of glutamic acid did not pose health concerns because it only indicates whether the body would receive more or less protein from the fish sauce.

Dr. Niphon suggested that consumers should look for the FDA-approved sign and the TISI approval sign on the label of the fish sauce before buying. They should also buy ‘real’ fish sauce. He added that fish sauce should be clear, has golden brown color and be free from deposits.


-- NNT 2013-05-10

[Ticketmaster]

Yeah, where the hell's the list? What good is such an announcement without the list?

[Thai at Heart]

Only 62.8% of real fish sauces found to meet standard

BANGKOK, 10 May 2013 (NNT) An inspection of fish sauces sold nationwide has revealed that only 62.8% of the samples from real fish sauce passed the set standard, whereas the passing rate for mixed fish sauce was even much lower.

According to the Medical Sciences Department, out of the collected 242 samples of real fish sauces and 229 samples of mixed fish sauces produced by 118 manufacturers, just a bit more than half of the real fish sauces passed the mark, and only 37.1% of mixed fish sauces met the standard.

Department director-general Niphon Phophatthanachai said the substandard sauces contained either more or less glutamic acid than recommended or contained too much preservative. He explained however that the amount of glutamic acid did not pose health concerns because it only indicates whether the body would receive more or less protein from the fish sauce.

Dr. Niphon suggested that consumers should look for the FDA-approved sign and the TISI approval sign on the label of the fish sauce before buying. They should also buy real fish sauce. He added that fish sauce should be clear, has golden brown color and be free from deposits.

-- NNT 2013-05-10

So other than an fda stamp, is there a standard?

[bobl]

Now they need to inform the population how BAD MSG is....

This hysteria over MSG is totally unfounded. Where is scientific evidence that proves MSG is dangerous? There is none. It is widely used in Japan, and has been for about one hundred years. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies of any Country. Take a rest on the MSG conspiracy, it does not exist.

HOW DARE YOU SIR!

Clouding a good rant with logic and facts. We don't need your kind round here.

[uptheos]

Surely the DMS need to publish a list of those products that fail to meet the safety standard so that people can have a choice to avoid the unsafe product.

I suppose we're in to the old chestnut about naming and shaming.

[Chao Lao Beach]

If you ever saw ow it was made you would run the other direction. It is also linked quite substantially with cancer as a catalyst.

Can you explain more of what you know please?

[laislica]

Now they need to inform the population how BAD MSG is....

This hysteria over MSG is totally unfounded. Where is scientific evidence that proves MSG is dangerous? There is none. It is widely used in Japan, and has been for about one hundred years. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies oWHAT?f any Country. Take a rest on the MSG conspiracy, it does not exist.

HOW DARE YOU SIR!

Clouding a good rant with logic and facts. We don't need your kind round here.

WHAT?

Where is the scientific evidence that it is good for you?

That it does no harm?

Edited May 12, 2013 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[bobl]

Now they need to inform the population how BAD MSG is....

This hysteria over MSG is totally unfounded. Where is scientific evidence that proves MSG is dangerous? There is none. It is widely used in Japan, and has been for about one hundred years. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies of any Country. Take a rest on the MSG conspiracy, it does not exist.

HOW DARE YOU SIR!

Clouding a good rant with logic and facts. We don't need your kind round here.

WHAT?

Where is the scientific evidence that it is good for you?

That it does no harm?

First, kindly do not alter my posts.

No-one is suggesting that there is scientific evidence it's good for you. We're suggesting there's no scientific evidence that it's harmful.

[HerbalEd]

nothing is better than a good old sea salt ....

Yes ... but it's easy to do too much here in Thailand.

[anon467367354]

About 36 per cent of samples contained a level of glutamic acid relative to nitrogen that was higher than the standard, and about 9.1 per cent of samples had a level that was lower than standard.

Still confused about what this means.

They put too much MSG in the fish sauce? Great...... Never new there was a "safe" legal level for MSG in anything in Thailand.

Who has read the labels of bottled sauces sold in stores? I have. Essentially none are without MSG. I buy Kikoman soy sauce, made in Japan, because it doesn't have MSG.

Thais are to healthy foods what redwoods are to coral reefs. They're miles apart.

The soy sauce that has the boat on the label does not have MSG and also states it's non-GMO. that's the only one I buy and I never use whatever they serve in the local raan ahaans.

[how241]

Surely the DMS need to publish a list of those products that fail to meet the safety standard so that people can have a choice to avoid the unsafe product.

+1