Contamination: Thai rice safety fears

[webfact]

CONTAMINATION
Rice safety fears
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



Bid for stricter control to regulate the use of chemicals

BANGKOK: -- Health authorities are scrambling to slap strict controls on chemical fumigation of rice and to push packers into upgrading their processing to good manufacturing practices (GMP) after reported findings of adulterated rice sapped public confidence in the country's food safety standards.

"Over the next five months, we will be nudging operators into adjusting themselves fast," Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said yesterday.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will this week ask the Public Health Ministry to issue a regulation limiting the use of three hazardous chemical substances - methyl bromide, hydrogen phosphide and sulfuryl fluoride - in rice products. This would be the first time for Thailand to impose controls on the use of substances in its signature food product.

The FDA will also ask manufacturers to voluntarily comply with the primary GMP, which requires them to ensure the cleanliness of their manufacturing processes to pack rice before launching in the market.

Pradit said that starting on January 1, all bagged rice would be up to GMP standards.

The government was also planning to ban methyl bromide, a pesticide used to kill rice-eating bugs, within two years, he said.

A consumer rights watchdog revealed on Tuesday that some packed rice products were tested with a high level of methyl bromide and some exceeded the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's guidelines.

On the same day, the FDA had already ordered the manufacturer of Ko-Ko packed rice, Siam Grains, to recall its products from shelves after it found that some of its products contained 94.2 milligrams per kilogram of methyl bromide.

FDA deputy secretary-general Srinuan Korrakuchakorn said stricter control of the three chemicals would mean that food products containing the substances above limits would face penalties under the Food Act of 1979.

The regulation would also apply to brown rice, germinated brown rice, and vitamin-enhanced rice.

Last Friday, the FDA collected samples of Ko-Ko packed rice to test for traces of agricultural chemicals and methyl bromide. It got the results on Monday, which showed 94.2 milligrams of methyl bromide per kilogram. That the Foundation for Consumers announced its results while the FDA kept quiet raised the question whether the government was hiding something.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that different organisations might have different standards when it came to the level of chemicals in packed rice. She said her government was ready to address public concerns.

"If you have any question, we are ready to check and provide an explanation," she said. Asked by reporters if the news would hurt the country's rice exports, she urged everyone not to generalise the issue.


-- The Nation 2013-07-18

[NeverSure]

"The government was also planning to ban methyl bromide, a pesticide used to kill rice-eating bugs, within two years, he said."

Two years? How about right now?

[PaullyW]

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that different organisations might have different standards when it came to the level of chemicals in packed rice."

If there one universal truth about Thailand, it is that it is a country without any uniform standards in almost anything. Of course, such lack of standards is what Thais seem to prefer as it makes life quite a bit more colourful.

It would be exceptionally funny to anticipate that there are uniform standards for doing anything across any non-foreign controlled industries here.

[bigbamboo]

The subject of how to solve the problem of contaminated Thai rice was discussed in depth at my son's school the other day.

Their solution? Eat Japanese rice instead.

[Thai at Heart]

The rules are all there already. Just absolutely no one enforces it.

[Bluespunk]

"Over the next five months, we will be nudging operators into adjusting themselves fast," Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said yesterday."

Really, 5 months of poisoned rice is acceptable?

[monty1412]

I agree with good old yingluck here.. lets not generalise the issue.

The mere fact that Thailand's signature export product and something so vital to every day life has no cohesive industry wide standards or regulations should not be generalised.

The mere fact that known carcinogens are being found in Thai packed rice at levels higher that recommended international standards should not be generalised.

The mere fact that allot of the fumigants being used are banned internationally for food stuffs shouldn't be generalised.

It takes 6 months to set standards in place ??? why.. or perhaps I am generalising.

Can I suggest that perhaps a generalist attitude to this issue and a whole raft of others is the crux of the problem.

Girl call the Health minister now, get the international standards as it pertains to chemical contaiminants in rice imposed and revoke licences and impose fines on anyone who does not comply.. no not in 6 months ... now...... what do you mean you cant as you have to check with Dubai first....

[Bluespunk]

"Last Friday, the FDA collected samples of Ko-Ko packed rice to test for traces of agricultural chemicals and methyl bromide. It got the results on Monday, which showed 94.2 milligrams of methyl bromide per kilogram. That the Foundation for Consumers announced its results while the FDA kept quiet raised the question whether the government was hiding something."

It doesn't raise the question of whether the govt is hiding something. It confirms that they lied to the public when they declared that there was no contamination of rice. It confirms they are trying to cover up yet another disastrous aspect of their failed, criminally inept rice policy. It confirms that they are panicking and their only solutions are denials, outright lies and threats of legal action for revealing the truth.

[OzMick]

Seems Yingluk's transparency is starting to work. All it took was an outside contractor to clean a window, and suddenly the FDA which couldn't find ANY contamination has found some.

[Thai at Heart]

I suggest they start visiting the 1700 warehouses and take some samples. What does the fda do in this country if residues life this can be kept quiet. 94 is double the codex mrl.

Next, let's hear if there are any household tricks to quickly remove methyl bromide residue.

Anyone?

Edited July 18, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[bigbamboo]

I agree with good old yingluck here.. lets not generalise the issue.

The mere fact that Thailand's signature export product and something so vital to every day life has no cohesive industry wide standards or regulations should not be generalised.

The mere fact that known carcinogens are being found in Thai packed rice at levels higher that recommended international standards should not be generalised.

The mere fact that allot of the fumigants being used are banned internationally for food stuffs shouldn't be generalised.

It takes 6 months to set standards in place ??? why.. or perhaps I am generalising.

Can I suggest that perhaps a generalist attitude to this issue and a whole raft of others is the crux of the problem.

Girl call the Health minister now, get the international standards as it pertains to chemical contaiminants in rice imposed and revoke licences and impose fines on anyone who does not comply.. no not in 6 months ... now...... what do you mean you cant as you have to check with Dubai first....

I would agree with that..... in general.

[kurnell]

Priceless. The Thai government will be the first in the history of the human race to systematically poison their entire population.

[jackr]

I don't see the problem; chemical-laden rice goes really well with tripe-fed chicken over the top and a side-helping of pesticide-laden veggies, all brought together with lashings of MSG! Amazing Thailand indeed, though can't really blame them as this is the MO in most of this region.

[Thai at Heart]

I don't see the problem; chemical-laden rice goes really well with tripe-fed chicken over the top and a side-helping of pesticide-laden veggies, all brought together with lashings of MSG! Amazing Thailand indeed, though can't really blame them as this is the MO in most of this region.

Ah, but, the rest don't claim to be the garden to the world.

[MaxLee]

That's what you get, when you blindly trust white lying politicians who want to self serve intervene with the nature of world economics,

No rice sold for almost 2 years, it's gonna rot, but oh my, you gotta spend over 20 freaking years in kindergarten, school and university up to maximum PHD (propaganda horrible development) to understand a simple law of business economics like this...???

That's sad, and makes everyone diarrhea sick to their own stomachs for the next decades, the Thai people have no choice now, they have to eat over 90% of what's been accumulated into the cargo for over 2 years in the creepy warehouses,

But then again it'll be the time to vote buy voters again, since all they care about is money for free...

[canopus1969]

Was it not recently some silly little girl in Government was saying the rice was not contaminated and was fine to eat ?

** Just remembered, am sure it was some girl called Yingluk

[Soupdragon]

What are the maximum levels for these chemicals in animal feed ?

Can't sell the rice, can't eat the rice, it has to go somewhere.

Seems it is destined for the food chain one way or another.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Soupdragon

[givenall]

What was the statement from the government don't worry the rice is fine. So they lied again?

[Thai at Heart]

What was the statement from the government don't worry the rice is fine. So they lied again?

They were worried cp might sue them.

[Tatsujin]

Pradit said that starting on January 1, all bagged rice would be up to GMP standards.

So, right now, none of the bagged rice is up to GMP standards or just some of it not up to standard?

[Thai at Heart]

Pradit said that starting on January 1, all bagged rice would be up to GMP standards.

So, right now, none of the bagged rice is up to GMP standards or just some of it not up to standard?

Anyone dare to buy old crop now? This guy is a dipstick. They need to start testing the stock in 50k mt lots and discarding what is out of limits for human consumption. They need to also check all the fumigation procedures nationwide.

That will sort out the stock problems double quick. I bet 25% doesn't pass.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[Roadman]

I don't see the problem; chemical-laden rice goes really well with tripe-fed chicken over the top and a side-helping of pesticide-laden veggies, all brought together with lashings of MSG! Amazing Thailand indeed, though can't really blame them as this is the MO in most of this region.

...and then rest and dose off to sleep in a freshly bug sprayed bed in a Chiang Mai hotel.

[Neilly]

Thailand's rice quality reputation...destroyed by a few pricks

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand's rice quality reputation...destroyed by a few pricks

Don't worry, it will eventually be the farangs fault for discovering methyl bromide.

[chooka]

What's happened, has this problem got to big for the government and all the warning to keep your mouth shut failed? Not enough tarps to cover up the issue so now they have to come out and say they will fix the problem? Let's see if they do actually do something about it and not just sprinkle a little sugar and hope it all fades away.

[chooka]

What's happened, has this problem got to big for the government and all the warning to keep your mouth shut failed? Not enough tarps to cover up the issue so now they have to come out and say they will fix the problem? Let's see if they do actually do something about it and not just sprinkle a little sugar and hope it all fades away.

[Thai at Heart]

What's happened, has this problem got to big for the government and all the warning to keep your mouth shut failed? Not enough tarps to cover up the issue so now they have to come out and say they will fix the problem? Let's see if they do actually do something about it and not just sprinkle a little sugar and hope it all fades away.

When the international buyers start demanding sampling every 500mt they will start crapping themselves. I won't be buying any more rice until they start declaring publicly reports from all the warehouses and start discarding lots that are out of spec.

[tominbkk]

I'm sticking to Japanese rice for awhile.

[tominbkk]

I'm sticking to Japanese rice for awhile.

[pb1936]

Deary, deary me, so many twists and turns. One contradiction after another. Can't see the Govt. getting out of the rice scandal for years.