Thailand is known for its popular Shine Muscat grapes, but recent findings from the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) have raised concerns about chemical contamination in these fruits. The organization, along with the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conducted laboratory tests on samples of Shine Muscat grapes and discovered alarming levels of hazardous chemical residues above the legal limits.
Out of 24 samples collected from various sources, including online shops, fruit shops, fresh markets, and supermarkets, only nine could be traced back to China, while the origins of the remaining 15 samples were unknown. Shockingly, 23 out of the 24 samples tested positive for pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits, with one sample even containing a banned insecticide called chlorpyrifos.
Further analysis revealed that 22 samples had 14 different harmful chemical residues above the safety limit of 0.01 mg/kg, including pesticides that are not yet regulated under Thai law. Thai-PAN emphasized the difficulty of removing these residues from grapevine tissue, highlighting the potential risks to consumers.
In response to these findings, Thai-PAN and the TCC have called on the Ministry of Public Health to take immediate action, such as mandating importers and distributors to disclose the country of origin for Shine Muscat grapes. The FDA, on the other hand, has already inspected a significant amount of imported grapes this year, with only a few samples exceeding safety standards. Legal action has been taken against the responsible importers, and stricter measures are being considered for future inspections.
Dr. Wattanasak Sornrung, director of the FDA’s Food and Drug Inspection Checkpoint Division, emphasized the importance of timely testing and releasing results within 24 hours to ensure consumer safety. Despite the challenges posed by chemical contamination, efforts are being made to protect consumers and improve the overall quality of imported fruits and vegetables in Thailand.
