Meat vendors warned against using borax to keep meat fresh always



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Livestock Development (DLD) today warned meat sellers against using borax or sodium borate on meat to make it look fresh longer, saying the chemical substance could cause serious heath hazards.

The warning came as authorities from the department, the Consumer Protection Police Division, and local health office raided Talad Simummuang market to check unsafe meats sold there.

Of the 36 meat vendors checked, eight were initially found to use borax to preserve their meats.

Borax powder was also seized from one vendor.

Samples of the meat tested to be tainted with borax were collected and were sent for further testing at the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) for confirmation.

The test result could take up to 2-3 days.

DLD director-general Ayuth Harintarnont said borax is often used on minced pork and pork meatballs as they could be spoiled quicker.

It made the meat look fresh, he said but advised that consumers must do is to observe why the meat remained fresh though it was on the table for the whole day.

That’s the first thing people can do to better protect themselves, he said.

He said meat vendors must stop using the substance to preserve meat as it could cause serious health hazard.

Meanwhile Dr. Apichai Mongkol, Director General of the Department of Medical Sciences says borax, once added, will not be noticeable to the naked eye, but the additive would cause the meat to become harder than it should be.

It said most people believe that by adding borax, the substance will help keep the meat fresh, thinking it would help stop bacteria from growing.

However, the substance is harmful to the health and could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sudden kidney failure.

The use of borax is banned by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Violator could face up to 2 years jail term and/ or a fine of no more than 20,000 baht for the offence.

But one meat vendor at the market admitted of using borax to keep meat fresh and reddish, though insisting the amount used was minuscule.

She said if the substance was not applied, the colour of the meat might change to dark green, making it unappealing to customers.

Every vendor uses borax, adding he has never known of any shop which doesn’t add this onto their meats.

She said further that some of her customers would also ask her to put more borax onto the meat after purchase to resell to the people, as most believe the additive could help preserve the meat longer, especially in hot and humid climate.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/meat-vendors-warned-using-borax-keep-meat-fresh-always/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-21

One reason I buy most of our meat from Makro,packed at the factory,frozen,

lot less chance to get contaminated,with who knows what.

Pork or Chicken,never bother with beef,really, just chop off the frozen block

what I need to make a meal,return to freezer,thaw out the piece of meat.

regards Worgeordie

Ah yes, warning them, that's that problem solved then.

Tbh they should just stick to doing what they are doing, at this rate, I think Thailand will truly be the first to discover some sort of immortality. I already am pretty impressed how people casually buy god knows how long sitting out in "room temperatur" meat and actually eat that too eventually. All the people I know haven't dropped dead yet from doing so, thus I have this strong, eh, believe that they may be on to some death resistance with immortality just on the horizon waiting to be seized.

No laughing matter and the relevent ministries better be tough on this. Many years ago, there were few reported death of infants eating borax tainted noddles in Malaysia. Generally affect the children nervous system more than adults. Go to Talat Thai and you see blatant use of borax by all pork sellers. Normal practice is a handful clump of borax to a layer of pork in full view. Inspectors must be blind not to see that.

No laughing matter and the relevent ministries better be tough on this. Many years ago, there were few reported death of infants eating borax tainted noddles in Malaysia. Generally affect the children nervous system more than adults. Go to Talat Thai and you see blatant use of borax by all pork sellers. Normal practice is a handful clump of borax to a layer of pork in full view. Inspectors must be blind not to see that.

Yes they should check a lot more, I am amazed that checkups like this are not something that is done more. I often wonder what they are doing all day as this is their job.

Same goes for flooding prevention, they only seem to come in action when problems arise not before. Its almost as if they want to do as little work as possible.

DLD director-general Ayuth Harintarnont said borax is often used on minced pork and pork meatballs as they could be spoiled quicker.

It made the meat look fresh, he said but advised that consumers must do is to observe why the meat remained fresh though it was on the table for the whole day.

As always, the relevant department puts the onus of due diligence on the public as opposed to actually fulfilling their mandate by demanding harsh punishment and high fines for offenders. This particular nincompoop tells the consumer to look at the meat he wants to buy for 12 hours, if it still looks fresh then it's laced with borax, if it doesn't, well then it's not fresh anymore, or is it?

I'm just glad the market vendors haven't discovered formaldehyde, yet...

Tbh they should just stick to doing what they are doing, at this rate, I think Thailand will truly be the first to discover some sort of immortality. I already am pretty impressed how people casually buy god knows how long sitting out in "room temperatur" meat and actually eat that too eventually. All the people I know haven't dropped dead yet from doing so, thus I have this strong, eh, believe that they may be on to some death resistance with immortality just on the horizon waiting to be seized.

News Flash. "Thailand invents immortality!" ?????? Why not? Pattaya perfected immorality.

DLD director-general Ayuth Harintarnont said borax is often used on minced pork and pork meatballs as they could be spoiled quicker.

It made the meat look fresh, he said but advised that consumers must do is to observe why the meat remained fresh though it was on the table for the whole day.

As always, the relevant department puts the onus of due diligence on the public as opposed to actually fulfilling their mandate by demanding harsh punishment and high fines for offenders. This particular nincompoop tells the consumer to look at the meat he wants to buy for 12 hours, if it still looks fresh then it's laced with borax, if it doesn't, well then it's not fresh anymore, or is it?

I'm just glad the market vendors haven't discovered formaldehyde, yet...

Guess you were just being sarky. . .

Health ministry warns of increasing use of formalin by vendors at fresh markets

in General | February 24, 2014 9:19 pm(4,505 view

"She said if the substance was not applied, the colour of the meat might change to dark green, making it unappealing to customers." Usually a good sign the meat is no good if it turns green, trouble is they can not then make any money/profit from it. Having meat sitting in the open with the heat and flies is not really a good idea, no refrigeration doesnt help either, trouble is this is what happens in most cases, even in the supermarkets some of the meat is not refrigerated especially the ones on special, just sits there in the open with flies and the heat all day. Problem is, if they make all these sellers take proper care and not use anything to mask the problems costs will increase and people will simply not buy it at all, its a catch 22

Warn them and keep warning them then warn them again. Warn them so many times until they are worn out.

Or......fine a few dozen of the 50k for selling poisoned frigging food.

No laughing matter and the relevent ministries better be tough on this. Many years ago, there were few reported death of infants eating borax tainted noddles in Malaysia. Generally affect the children nervous system more than adults. Go to Talat Thai and you see blatant use of borax by all pork sellers. Normal practice is a handful clump of borax to a layer of pork in full view. Inspectors must be blind not to see that.

Yes they should check a lot more, I am amazed that checkups like this are not something that is done more. I often wonder what they are doing all day as this is their job.

Same goes for flooding prevention, they only seem to come in action when problems arise not before. Its almost as if they want to do as little work as possible.

I am confused. Which department is responsible for checking. Any idea? Normal situation of many people doing the talking but little doers.

The BMA need a big shakeup and total reform. Every time there is flood, the same old excuses are being regurgitated.

Remember this one? Says "Hygiene officials urged to take action"...

With all that Urging and Warning, I'm sure the problems will be nipped in the bud.

I've been looking for borax for many years but never found it in Thailand. I needed it to kill ants.

But meat on the markets, totally unchilled in 35 celcius laying in open air with flies can't be healthy. I would rather become vegetarian.

On markets and in Makro the Thai just grab raw meat with bare hands, after that they use their bare hands to push the cart and to get their money. They have never learned about hygiene and also don't care for it.

I've been looking for borax for many years but never found it in Thailand. I needed it to kill ants.

But meat on the markets, totally unchilled in 35 celcius laying in open air with flies can't be healthy. I would rather become vegetarian.

On markets and in Makro the Thai just grab raw meat with bare hands, after that they use their bare hands to push the cart and to get their money. They have never learned about hygiene and also don't care for it.

Thousand of tons of Borax are imported into Thailand each year for the manufacturing and wood industries. You don't need a special import permit. I import few hundred tons each year for my business. But you right as not many available for retail.

I've been looking for borax for many years but never found it in Thailand. I needed it to kill ants.

But meat on the markets, totally unchilled in 35 celcius laying in open air with flies can't be healthy. I would rather become vegetarian.

On markets and in Makro the Thai just grab raw meat with bare hands, after that they use their bare hands to push the cart and to get their money. They have never learned about hygiene and also don't care for it.

same here I was looking for borax for home use, I called up a chemical supplier, they say its banned for retail use that is why we can't find it sold anywhere.

I've been looking for borax for many years but never found it in Thailand. I needed it to kill ants.

But meat on the markets, totally unchilled in 35 celcius laying in open air with flies can't be healthy. I would rather become vegetarian.

On markets and in Makro the Thai just grab raw meat with bare hands, after that they use their bare hands to push the cart and to get their money. They have never learned about hygiene and also don't care for it.

same here I was looking for borax for home use, I called up a chemical supplier, they say its banned for retail use that is why we can't find it sold anywhere.

So it's banned but we can find it on 30% of the meat on the markets......

Good to know that it's banned, at least i can stop searching for it now in the supermarkets.

...am sure that will keep them in line....

i watched a bloke stuff a squirrel on youtube and he used borax on the fur pelt because it stops it decaying ... anyone tried bathing in it yet?

Is this the reason the girls keep telling me my borax taste funny ?