Bangkok Post – Thailand FDA: Grapes meet safety standards

Agency tests 7 tonnes of imported Shine Muscat grapes after reports of chemical contamination

All imported The shine of Muscat grapes met food safety According to Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this is in response to public concerns over recent reports of chemical contamination.

Last Tuesday, the agency’s Food and Drug Administration department seized 6.93 tons of grapes worth 3 million baht to be tested for chemical residues in accordance with the retention test protocol.

The fruits met all regulatory standards, so the FDA approved them for import and domestic sale, Deputy Director General Lerchai Lertvut said on Friday.

Public concern arose last month when Thailand Consumer Council reported that 23 of 24 samples of Shine Muscat grapes it tested contained hazardous chemical residues that exceeded legal limits. Some were contaminated with chlorpyrifos and endrinaldehyde, which are banned under Thai food safety laws.

Mr. Lertchai said the FDA enforces strict inspection measures on imported fruits and vegetables, including issuing a testing permit where samples are sent to an ISO 17025 certified laboratory to test agricultural chemical residues within 24 hours of shipment.

If the residues exceed the safety level, the products will be banned from entering the country and legal action will be taken, Mr Lertchai said.

The FDA encourages importers to ensure that imported products meet Thai legal standards and come from certified sources.

Discussions will be held with foreign embassies to maximize the safety of imported products, and more sampling and random testing will be conducted at FDA checkpoints, he said.

In any case, consumers are advised to soak imported products in plain water for 15 minutes and then rub them under running water for at least 30 seconds.