The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to intensify the screening of fruits and vegetables for consumer safety. Following the detection of 50 types of toxic residues in Shine Muscat grapes, there has been growing concern over the safety of imported produce among Thai consumers. Thai-PAN (Pesticide Alert Network) revealed on October 24 that an analysis of 24 samples from 15 locations in Greater Bangkok showed contamination with seven to 18 types of toxic residues, with 23 samples exceeding legal limits for up to six toxins.
Surachoke Tangwiwat, the FDA secretary-general, stated that the agency will expand the list of prohibited chemicals and pesticides and increase the sample size for testing from 500 to 5,000 next year to enhance inspection efficiency. In 2024, out of 506 vegetable and fruit samples tested, 177 did not comply with the standards. The Thai FDA's inspection protocols align with international and Department of Agriculture standards, aiming to ensure the safety of produce in the market.
Violators importing non-compliant fruits and vegetables could face fines up to 1484 USD and have their products disposed of or returned. The FDA will particularly focus on chlorpyriphos and paraquat but will also screen for other prevalent toxins. In response to Thai-PAN's findings on Shine Muscat grapes, Surachoke confirmed that further inspections are planned to enforce regulations against distributors of contaminated products. He also recommended washing fruits and vegetables before consumption to minimize chemical exposure.
Source: The Nation