Fruit vendors face crackdown

[Admin]

Fruit vendors face crackdown
Published: 14/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post: Newspaper section: News

Street vendors and larger sellers of fresh and preserved fruit in Bangkok will soon risk jail terms and fines if they are found selling contaminated products.



PM's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaibul said yesterday the clampdown followed a survey by health authorities which found that fruit sold by street vendors and other sellers in the capital posed a health risk to buyers.

Authorities from the PM's Office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Medical Sciences and the Consumer Protection Board sampled fruit from 38 vendors in greater Bangkok.

Of 153 samples, 67.3% had unsafe coliform bacteria levels. The survey found that vendors were not observing proper hygiene measures when preparing the fruit, which could cause intestinal problems for buyers such as diarrhoea.

The survey also revealed that 16.2% of 161 fruit samples are dyed with unsafe amounts of synthetic pigments and 40.3% contain antifungal agents (salicylic acid).

Of the processed fruits sampled, 64.2% were contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Dark green and red pickled guava were found to be the most contaminated processed fruit. Antifungal agents and synthetic pigments were found in 32.1% of the pickled guava tested.

Mr Ong-art said the fruit tested came from both individual vendors and those hired to sell the produce of large-scale operators.

Fruit was tested from five sources: Talad (market) Thai and Talad Si Moom, an area by Phadung Krung Kasem canal, Soi Luk Luang 7 beside Wat Yuan and a community next to railway tracks in the Yommarat area.

Authorities will urge consumers to avoid coloured fruits and will ask vendors to ensure their products are prepared in a hygienic manner.

The campaign will continue for a month, after which time another survey will be conducted. If fruit is still found to be contaminated, vendors will be liable to up to two years in jail and/or a maximum fine of 20,000 baht.

Mr Ong-art said vendors would be targeted as it was difficult for consumers to determine a fruit's quality.

[Admin]

An example of dyed mango with color from Buriram, its everywhere and many kinds of fruits are being colored with stronger colors than nature gave them..  to make them look more fresh and nice.
I think can see it easily if you take a second look at the fruit you are buying from a bike or the market, usually its only the fruits that being cut and packed ready for sale.
If it look too go... take a second look.

I eat these fruits but after reading this article I will be more cautious as they are suggesting it might be not healthy to eat them, takes all the healthy part of eating fruits! 

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