Is Thai Food Actually Healthy?

[tony5150]

I know you have to be very careful when eating the "bearded clam" or "tuna tacco". Very dangerous for your health to eat if not clean.

[bunta71]

The Thais did well for centuries on their diet. All that time, the food did not contain the MSG, sugar, bad oils, and lots and lots of deadly pesticides and herbicides, most of which are banned throughout the world. Add to the mix all the other ingredients that one cannot pronounce and now the Thais are beginning to contract the same diseases that the Western world has been inundated by for the last 50-60 years. And now the GMO's....

[Card]

The Thais did well for centuries on their diet. All that time, the food did not contain the MSG, sugar, bad oils, and lots and lots of deadly pesticides and herbicides, most of which are banned throughout the world. Add to the mix all the other ingredients that one cannot pronounce and now the Thais are beginning to contract the same diseases that the Western world has been inundated by for the last 50-60 years. And now the GMO's....

it's the GMOs that will probably save them.

[pizzachang]

If you eat fried food all the time, it isn't good for you. Lots of fruit & vegetables, less meat and enough calcium, along with not smoking, drinking or drugging are good bets anywhere in the world. Chiles are good for you by the way. I grew up in the Southern USA and the custom was to boil the s**t out of vegetables and eat as much fried meat as possible. Glad I left as a 18 yr old before I died. And of course, just eating quality doesn't do a lot of good if you don't exercise.

[ozyjon]

Instant noodles contain a wax coating which is also used in the styrofoam containers. That is why instant noodles don't stick together when cooking. Our body needs up to two days to clean the wax. Makes sure you stop eating a pack of noodles for at least three days after. This wax can cause cancer. Thais usually eat this stuff at least once a day...

And Koreans eat the stuff 3 times a day, and don't forget the little satchell with the flavouring, a concoction of chemicals floating through your veins, great stuff.

[rubberduck]

The national addiction is SUGAR, MSG and OVERUSE of HOT PEPPERS, no wonder they always are sick.

It's rediculous to add 2 full soup spoons of sugar to 1 bowl of phad thai. (after it already was prepared with a huge amount of sugar in it...)

Don't remember how many times I have said it when on the noodlerun: 'MAI AUW NAM THAN, MAI AUW CHOO ROT (msg) KHAP'

[personchester]

The difference is between Thai cuisine and Thai ordinary cooking, Thai cuisine can hold its own anywhere, but the Thai ordinary cooking process is downhill because a lot of it is fried in cheap oil and is used in high temperature during cooking.

Research consistently shows that fried oil in high temperature causes cancer and hardening of the arteries, the burning oil is changing the chemistry of its molecule and as a result the smoky oil will oxidize, so instead of being good and nutritious it generates harmful free radicals that attack body cells which results in general health and longevity problems.

The chemically changed molecules produce carcinogens, a substance that causes cancer, in addition there is mainly white rice which unlike brown rice enters the bloodstream very quickly, playing havoc with the insulin, causing repeated high and low blood sugar contains, when low one feels quickly hungry again, thus people tent to eat soon again.

Moreover, low blood sugar count causes a low level of energy, hence tiredness, and unstable insulin (up and down) can in later years also cause diabetics, thus the smoky oil frying process should be reduced and the food steaming process should be introduced

pro-rata.

[Andre0720]

A Thai doctor told me not to eat Thai food. Said it was bad for me. Enough said

And how did he define thai food?

[Andre0720]

The Thais did well for centuries on their diet. All that time, the food did not contain the MSG, sugar, bad oils, and lots and lots of deadly pesticides and herbicides, most of which are banned throughout the world. Add to the mix all the other ingredients that one cannot pronounce and now the Thais are beginning to contract the same diseases that the Western world has been inundated by for the last 50-60 years. And now the GMO's....

Yes quite so.

But the deep frying that we see is from chinese influence. Pure garbage.

And the KFC and McDo is from western influence. Pure garbage.

So the kids are unhealthy and fat now.

Small wonder

[MrBrad]

The OP wrote that white rice has no nutritional value. How can that be true? It provide calories needed by your body. Healthy eating is not about the food - but the portions that you take. But it seems the OP would rather have a Big Mac with a Big Gulp.

Before Starbucks, Big Macs, Pizzas and other western food were introduced in Thailand, obesity rates among Thais were low. Twenty years ago, I estimated there were two to three kids out of a hundred that was overweight. Today, that figure is around 30 out of a hundred (just my estimate by the way).

The kind of food available to kids have changed. Before it was Papaya pokpok and Larb. Now its deep fried processed S!@#$T dipped in batter, crepe, fries and other western-influenced snacks. Kids just love it! They they leave school and hit the video games shop. Hmmmmm....

Here's a little graphic showing how Thai people are getting fatter than most of their neighbors.

[krisb]

while we are on the  topic of healthy food I saw a recent  episode of an american medical seris on TV  here in Aus  that asked the  question how big a serve  of  veggies would  you  need to  equal the  amount of  calories in a Big Mac Large Fries and a 32oz cup of Coke ???  the  answer came as a total surprise to me when they answered the question by bringing  out a large supermarket  shopping  trolley completely filled up  with veggies an amount that I reckon most people would  take at least  6 months to  consume if eaten every day as their  main meal with nothing  else with them  !

Dr oz?

[Trembly]

Chili peppers have more vitamin C in them per weight than oranges. If you don't believe me google it.

I've never been a fan of the orange juice they sell in the west, but when I lived in the UK I found that if I went for long periods without chili I would develop a craving for orange juice. When I ate something with a good dose of fresh chili in it the orange juice craving would disappear.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Trembly

[Andre0720]

No

Oh.

Is that what she told you last night?

[robblok]

Chili peppers have more vitamin C in them per weight than oranges. If you don't believe me google it.

I've never been a fan of the orange juice they sell in the west, but when I lived in the UK I found that if I went for long periods without chili I would develop a craving for orange juice. When I ate something with a good dose of fresh chili in it the orange juice craving would disappear.

Funny how sometimes cravings send you in the right direction of what your body needs (not of course when you are send to a packet of chrips)

[Trembly]

Chili peppers have more vitamin C in them per weight than oranges. If you don't believe me google it.

I've never been a fan of the orange juice they sell in the west, but when I lived in the UK I found that if I went for long periods without chili I would develop a craving for orange juice. When I ate something with a good dose of fresh chili in it the orange juice craving would disappear.

Funny how sometimes cravings send you in the right direction of what your body needs (not of course when you are send to a packet of chrips)

I think that the cravings are usually perfectly in tune, but people sometimes have other mental stuff (addictions / psychological imbalances) that override them.

As I learn more about nutrition I have found that what I considered to taste good is usually healthier (for me) at that time anyway.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Trembly

[laislica]

Isn't everything that's tasty and delicious bad for you.

I love broccoli!

Is it good for you?

Only if it's not a genetically modified one and not stuffed full of pesticides etc.

How can you tell?

Maybe if the broccoli is too perfect, not an insect bite anywhere then it's too good to be true.

Sorry if this bursts a few bubbles but we are so being conned by the Monsanto's of this world.

I have seen veg labelled as organic in Bangkok but it's very expensive, off the shelf but we have to take 4 buses to get to the shelf..... It doesn't mention GMO though.....

[Card]

Isn't everything that's tasty and delicious bad for you.

I love broccoli!

Is it good for you?

Only if it's not a genetically modified one and not stuffed full of pesticides etc.

How can you tell?

Maybe if the broccoli is too perfect, not an insect bite anywhere then it's too good to be true.

Sorry if this bursts a few bubbles but we are so being conned by the Monsanto's of this world.

I have seen veg labelled as organic in Bangkok but it's very expensive, off the shelf but we have to take 4 buses to get to the shelf..... It doesn't mention GMO though.....

If you think food in Thailand labelled as 'organic' is free from pesticides, then u are a fool. Firstly, organic is often a fraud in Thailand to increase prices. There is little if any monitoring and It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food. And if you think any organic food is generally healthier than GMO crops then you need to think again. That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west. You are being conned by the usual propaganda coupled with the bright green labels and lack of monitoring.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Card

[laislica]

I'm more concerned over the agro-chemicals/agro-pharmaceuticals with which Thai farm produce is drenched than I am over sugar/salt/fat in my food.

It is common practice for Thai farmers to raise two crops - chemical drenched crops for sale and chemical free crops for home consumption.

Sorry, I've run out of likes!!!

I agree with you 100%

and don't forget GMO's.

Given a choice, wild birds and animals ate the non GMO corn and largely ignored the GMO corn right next to it.

The wild ones know where there is proper nutrition and where not!

[Card]

I'm more concerned over the agro-chemicals/agro-pharmaceuticals with which Thai farm produce is drenched than I am over sugar/salt/fat in my food.

It is common practice for Thai farmers to raise two crops - chemical drenched crops for sale and chemical free crops for home consumption.

Sorry, I've run out of likes!!!

I agree with you 100%

and don't forget GMO's.

Given a choice, wild birds and animals ate the non GMO corn and largely ignored the GMO corn right next to it.

The wild ones know where there is proper nutrition and where not!

Drivel - except in your imagination. There is no known case in the scientific literature that shows this. Just another piece of organic propaganda.

[bealus]

As many of us choose chicken to be a regular companion in our daily meals and Thai kitchen favors it a lot; have to give

a warning about consuming chicken-meat(no pun intended)too much.

First the Thai governmental controls on food are sloppy and "mai pen rai" just like any thing else in Thailand.

But over the last year I was confronted with 2 Thai friends, one developing gout and the other one developing kind of

breasts(while being not fat).

To cut a long story short, both went to (different)hospitals, doctors analyzed their food-consumption and they ate both large

portions of chicken. Doctors told them in Thailand chicken-meat is stuffed with grow-hormones and anti-biotics, beyond

any level acceptable in e.g. Europe or U.S.

In fact supermarket-chains who import large quantities of chicken-meat, have their own "food-control" inspectors here;

chicken-farms which are not under contract(the vast majority)use any method to raise their profit quickly and scrupulously

[puukao]

Instant noodles contain a wax coating which is also used in the styrofoam containers. That is why instant noodles don't stick together when cooking. Our body needs up to two days to clean the wax. Makes sure you stop eating a pack of noodles for at least three days after. This wax can cause cancer. Thais usually eat this stuff at least once a day...

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/noodles.asp

Of course, maybe this site saying the rumor is false is also false. haha.

[laislica]

I'm more concerned over the agro-chemicals/agro-pharmaceuticals with which Thai farm produce is drenched than I am over sugar/salt/fat in my food.

It is common practice for Thai farmers to raise two crops - chemical drenched crops for sale and chemical free crops for home consumption.

Sorry, I've run out of likes!!!

I agree with you 100%

and don't forget GMO's.

Given a choice, wild birds and animals ate the non GMO corn and largely ignored the GMO corn right next to it.

The wild ones know where there is proper nutrition and where not!

Drivel - except in your imagination. There is no known case in the scientific literature that shows this. Just another piece of organic propaganda.

Oh dear, the brainwashing is complete! and what makes you think that only Science is truthful?

Scientists are bribed to tell lies every day world wide.

I suppose you will prove that fluoride is an essential nutrient and it should be added in uncontrolled amounts to your drinking water. I suppose that mercury added as a preservative to your shots to give them a longer shelf life is also good for you?

Just find out who paid for the "research" that you are relying on.

Find out if they published all the facts and didn't suppress some because they didn't tell the story that they wanted. That they then change the test criteria until they can do a test that proves what they want to see.

Anecdotal evidence is all around you - you only need to have an open mind to see it.

But, up to you as they say here.

[MickGC]

We all get a bit "anal" about food sometimes. Six vegetables and 3 pieces of fruit a day is great if you have the time to go to the market to buy, then come home and cook. Is why street food and fast food is so popular with the average busy worker these days. I like to use my limited spare time having a few beers and socialising with friends and family rather than peeling potatoes and worrying about the next meal. Might die a few years younger because of it, but will have a happier more relaxed life not worrying too much about it all.

And don't forget the Eskimos

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2374/traditionally-eskimos-ate-only-meat-and-fish-why-didnt-they-get-scurvy

[laislica]

Isn't everything that's tasty and delicious bad for you.

I love broccoli!

Is it good for you?

Only if it's not a genetically modified one and not stuffed full of pesticides etc.

How can you tell?

Maybe if the broccoli is too perfect, not an insect bite anywhere then it's too good to be true.

Sorry if this bursts a few bubbles but we are so being conned by the Monsanto's of this world.

I have seen veg labelled as organic in Bangkok but it's very expensive, off the shelf but we have to take 4 buses to get to the shelf..... It doesn't mention GMO though.....

If you think food in Thailand labelled as 'organic' is free from pesticides, then u are a fool. Firstly, organic is often a fraud in Thailand to increase prices. There is little if any monitoring and It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food. And if you think any organic food is generally healthier than GMO crops then you need to think again. That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west. You are being conned by the usual propaganda coupled with the bright green labels and lack of monitoring.

Thank you Card, so delicately put - You are a fool!

However, I agree that I do not trust labels here.

Have you read Driving Over Lemons, a great read, especially the bit where a Brit relocating to the hills near Granada, supposed that the local food was all organic. A farmer said What, you must be joking, we throw every chemical at them that we can get our hands on!.

I would be interested in seeing some references to the "It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food. and the "That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west."

As far as I am aware, organic production is very tightly controlled and monitored in the UK.

I have to say that for me, the down side of Thailand is the poor quality and control of food production here, animal and plant.

The tampering with genetic plant material is something that I got involved with when I assisted a friend with her project at a European Uni, for her doctorate.

The introduced genes are not placed into the DNA in a precise way, it is random.

The seeds are not the same from generation to generation because they don't know where the alien gene will place it's self, and the resulting changes to the plant are not something that can be determined. The only thing they really know is that the alteration will cause the plant to create it's own pesticide, or be resistant to Roundup for example. That's the only test they are interested in.

The changes to the nutritional values of the plant are not tested because they don't want us to find out what they are. Simple really,

Oh how we love and trust science and technology.

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.

~ Mark Caine

Edited May 10, 2013 by laislica

[vijer]

From the May-O Clinic website.

MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — include:

Headache

Flushing

Sweating

Facial pressure or tightness

Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas

Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)

Chest pain

Nausea

Weakness

However, researchers have found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and these symptoms. Researchers acknowledge, though, that a small percentage of people may have short-term reactions to MSG. Symptoms are usually mild and don't require treatment. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG.

This sounds about as damaging as consuming a lot of salt. Some people might have a reaction where others don't. Just the same, I don't consume a lot of MSG.

Overall I think Thai food, that isn't fried, is healthy. The fried stuff on the other hand is horribly bad for you so are the rubber balls they eat (supposedly pork or fish but have the consistency and taste of rubber).

Coconut milk isn't bad for you if it doesn't have additives and isn't stored in containers that are lined with BPA, generally the cans coconut milk is sold in are lined with BPA, boxed coconut milk is not.

I know that since I have lived in Thailand one of my medical issues has gone away. I used to have Restless Leg Syndrome and it was painful to try to sleep at night. Now the problem is gone. I believe this is because the chicken and pork sold in Thailand doesn't have all the antibiotics and hormones that are in meat products in the USA.

[Card]

laislica, on 10 May 2013 - 22:26, said:

Card, on 10 May 2013 - 21:15, said:

laislica, on 10 May 2013 - 20:39, said:

s it good for you?

stoneyboy, on 09 May 2013 - 21:04, said:

Isn't everything that's tasty and delicious bad for you.

I love broccoli!

Only if it's not a genetically modified one and not stuffed full of pesticides etc.

How can you tell?

Maybe if the broccoli is too perfect, not an insect bite anywhere then it's too good to be true.

Sorry if this bursts a few bubbles but we are so being conned by the Monsanto's of this world.

I have seen veg labelled as organic in Bangkok but it's very expensive, off the shelf but we have to take 4 buses to get to the shelf..... It doesn't mention GMO though.....

If you think food in Thailand labelled as 'organic' is free from pesticides, then u are a fool. Firstly, organic is often a fraud in Thailand to increase prices. There is little if any monitoring and It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food. And if you think any organic food is generally healthier than GMO crops then you need to think again. That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west. You are being conned by the usual propaganda coupled with the bright green labels and lack of monitoring.

Thank you Card, so delicately put - You are a fool!

However, I agree that I do not trust labels here.

Have you read Driving Over Lemons, a great read, especially the bit where a Brit relocating to the hills near Granada, supposed that the local food was all organic. A farmer said What, you must be joking, we throw every chemical at them that we can get our hands on!.

I would be interested in seeing some references to the "It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food. and the "That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west."

As far as I am aware, organic production is very tightly controlled and monitored in the UK.

I have to say that for me, the down side of Thailand is the poor quality and control of food production here, animal and plant.

The tampering with genetic plant material is something that I got involved with when I assisted a friend with her project at a European Uni, for her doctorate.

The introduced genes are not placed into the DNA in a precise way, it is random.

The seeds are not the same from generation to generation because they don't know where the alien gene will place it's self, and the resulting changes to the plant are not something that can be determined. The only thing they really know is that the alteration will cause the plant to create it's own pesticide, or be resistant to Roundup for example. That's the only test they are interested in.

The changes to the nutritional values of the plant are not tested because they don't want us to find out what they are. Simple really,

Oh how we love and trust science and technology.

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.

~ Mark Caine

"It has been proven several times that it is often NOT any more pesticide-free than conventional food."

Here I was referring to organic food in THAILAND, not in the UK where standards are higher. For some of your answers to this, I refer you to an article in either the BKK Post or Nation a couple of years ago where 'organic' food in shops and supermarkets in Thailand were tested for pesticides and found to be contaminated as much as conventional produce. You might also refer to discussions on this matter in the organic food section of Thaivisa where several people with direct experience of the organic food industry in some other countries were scathing about the poor monitoring and standards in organic produce. This does not apply to western countries.

"That's been proven over and over again not to be the case in the west."

in the west - I mean the research has been done in the west. This refers to the myth that organic food is healthier than conventionally grown food, or at least significantly. I suggest you do a Google search for 'Is organic food healthier than conventionally grown food? And stick to the scientifically valid ones.

As for your last point about random insertion of genetic elements into DNA, I agree it is random for the parent generation when the new variety is produced but then the location is tested for routinely in the chosen varieties so they do know where the genes are located and can select for those varieties where they might be more favorably located, if that's a concern. After that it is governed by the same laws of genetics as any other conventional gene in plant breeding. But in any case what has this to do with safety? The plants are assessed for safety in ways that are more reliable, more exhaustive and more relevant than conventionally bred varieties. It's the product that counts, not the process.

It's a bit like the small experiment I did in my garden. I buried a plastic bag bought in Makro that clearly gives a big GREEN sign on the bag and says it's biodegradeable. I buried it in soil and it's still unchanged after 3 years. That's labelling in Thailand for you.

Yes I trust scientists far more than myth makers and illusionists, who think they can rely more on their own logic rather than scientific proof in a way reminiscent of the ancients prior to the Enlightenment.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Card

[gray42]

It's pretty sickening seeing the Thai kids (and even adults) dumping spoonfulls of sugar onto their pad see ew or whatever it is they're eating. But then again, it's sickening seeing farang dumping 3, 4, 5 spoonfulls of sugar into their tiny coffee or tea cup.

Edited May 10, 2013 by gray42

[pattayadingo]

A Thai doctor told me not to eat Thai food. Said it was bad for me. Enough said

And how did he define thai food?

Regular street food, restaurant food etc. Because of what they put in it. Many sauces are full of cr*p- Many dishes have too much salt, sugar and MSG. It is simply the way it is made.

The doc recommends home cooked food. And not food made with packet sauces, fish sauces etc.

.

[blazes]

Considering that Asians have been surviving for centuries with their diet I find it hard to believe that it can be too bad for you. Why do farang males seem to like the slim, trim beauties that Thailand seems to produce. But, when those same Thai women marry farangs and start eating western food they quickly fatten up like us western women on our supposedly "better" diet. .

they haven't eaten for centuries what they eat today. There was ZERO oil, nobody used MSG, sugarcane and palm sugar was the sole source for sweetening. There was no breaded food, no 7/11 chocolates and cakes. There weren't any wheat products, no extra sweet joghurts and no sugar loaden after-school drinks. What you talking about. Thai eating culture has changed rapidly and greatly from what they ate 40 years ago and further back. The "westernization" has brought oil fried, breaded oil loaden sugary foodstuff to Thailand.

Where are the slim thais? They are vanishing, their days are counted. Today you see obese kids and fat women literally everywhere.

a couple of posts have mentioned the growing issue of obesity in Thailand. i am actually just working on a paper on that subject now, and if anyone would like to peruse the draft, you can see it here - any feedback would be welcomed.

Feedback: your paper covers all of the main points excellently. One little observation missing: in Chiang Mai, I never see a Thai person walking from point A to point B. If you see someone walking it is 99% likely to be a farang. So, the ubiquitous presence of the motor cycle (agent of death for the drunk, and spewer of filthy fumes, like song thaews) likely also contributes to obesity. Bicycles not encouraged.

Very little public park space within cities. In CM you have to go to the vast 700 Years Sports Complex, which is ok, but obviously a bit of an effort. How many Thai towns have a Centre where one can stroll and be free from pollution? There is quite a nice "centre" to Roi Et, where there is an artificial lake and lovely trees to encourage both walking and strolling. As far as I can make out, however, only the 'middle class" have the time to be able to walk there at the best time, round about 5 pm.

That may lead to one more point: in the West, fast food is consumed, mainly, by the poor and least educated. A more equitable system of salary distribution might help in the long run. (For ex, it is not so common to see the "better off" in society with fat bellies. Usually the obese are those who can only afford junk food (though it is more expensive than the kind of good nutritional food that can be bought in farmer's markets or at roadside stands....but there again, the poor do not have the time to go hunting for good food like that.)

In Thailand, the population should be encouraged to visit the Royal Projects to buy healthy food (or at least get a glimpse of it). Again, the problem is: Royal food is too expensive for the ordinary Thai.

[chiangmaibruce]

Feedback: your paper covers all of the main points excellently. One little observation missing: in Chiang Mai, I never see a Thai person walking from point A to point B. If you see someone walking it is 99% likely to be a farang. So, the ubiquitous presence of the motor cycle (agent of death for the drunk, and spewer of filthy fumes, like song thaews) likely also contributes to obesity. Bicycles not encouraged.

Very little public park space within cities. In CM you have to go to the vast 700 Years Sports Complex, which is ok, but obviously a bit of an effort. How many Thai towns have a Centre where one can stroll and be free from pollution? There is quite a nice "centre" to Roi Et, where there is an artificial lake and lovely trees to encourage both walking and strolling. As far as I can make out, however, only the 'middle class" have the time to be able to walk there at the best time, round about 5 pm.

That may lead to one more point: in the West, fast food is consumed, mainly, by the poor and least educated. A more equitable system of salary distribution might help in the long run. (For ex, it is not so common to see the "better off" in society with fat bellies. Usually the obese are those who can only afford junk food (though it is more expensive than the kind of good nutritional food that can be bought in farmer's markets or at roadside stands....but there again, the poor do not have the time to go hunting for good food like that.)

In Thailand, the population should be encouraged to visit the Royal Projects to buy healthy food (or at least get a glimpse of it). Again, the problem is: Royal food is too expensive for the ordinary Thai.

Thanks for those comments which I will take onboard. I have been getting some helpful advice and I am amending the draft accordingly.

Some have suggested that I should say, well X% of the obesity problem is due to that factor and Y% is due to this, etc. But it's not that type of paper and I suspect that's not possible to do anyway ... too many variables. I also don't want to get into the arguable factors like MSG, chemical traces, GM food and so on .... will make the paper too long and involved, and have most ppls eyes glassing over. All I am trying to achieve here is raise the issue, identify the main variables, and make the point that because of their collective influence, the obesity problem will end up being as big or bigger than it is in the west.

Interestingly, with fast food ... In the west it is driven more by convenience and price of alternatives. In Thailand it is (at the moment) booming despite being more expensive and less convenient ... as I mention in the paper I think the demand is fuelled more by its western cachet than the other factors. cheers. bruce

Edited May 10, 2013 by chiangmaibruce