Majority of Thai rice is safe, tests show

Majority of Thai rice is safe, tests show

A quarter of the 46 packed rice brands available in the market tested totally free of chemical residue, while the rest contained different levels - but only 2% was contaminated above the international standard, according to the Thai Foundation for Consumers.

Rice displayed by the Foundation for Consumers as having low level of residues. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

The foundation's Chaladsue magazine on Tuesday revealed the results of tests jointly conducted with the Biothai Foundation on 46 bags of packed rice of different brands bought from hypermarkets and convenience stores. It reported  that 12 of them contained no chemical residue - or 26.1% of the total sample.

For the remaining of 34 brands, or 73.9% of the total, the tests showed residues of methyl bromide, which is used in fumigation, at levels between 0.9-67 mg/kg. 

Saree Ong-somwang, secretary-general of the Foundation for Consumers, said there was only one brand - CoCo Pimpa white rice - had methyl bromide residue above the 50ml international standard under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). The test showed of 67.4mg/kg.

All samples were clean of  organophosphate, carbamate insecticides and fungicides, she said.

Vitoon Lianchamroon of Biothai, said although majority of tested samples passed the Codex standard, several countries apply stricter standards for methyl bromide - India sets a safe standard at lower than 25mg/kg and China sets it as low as 5ml/kg.

The tests showed that 13 samples contain methyl bromide residue higher than 5mg/kg, so these products did not meet the export quality to China, which is one of Thailand's major rice markets.

"Thailand is one of the top rice exporters but does not have its own standard, so the country has to rely on the international standard, which may impact both the export and domestic market.

"Related government agencies should pay more attention to the quality of rice sold domestically in order to upgrade overall quality," he said.

Ms Saree said the government agencies should reveal details of tested brands with no residue to the public so consumers can make their own decisions.

She also suggested the government allow representatives of consumer organisations to witness the tests to ensure transparency.

The foundation and its network bought the samples between June 19-27 from seven stores. Fifteen samples were 100% jasmine rice and the rest ordinary white rice and other fragrant rice.

Wiboonlaksana Ruamraksa, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the department normally random tests 20 brands of rice each month to examine the rice DNA, to verify the fragrant variety. However, there will be more testing for chemical residues of all types of rice.

Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar said the ministry will coordinate with government agencies to re-test products of brands mentioned by the Foundation for Consumers to ensure accuracy and will disclose the information to the public.

Currently, there are five laboratories in the country that can test chemical residues on rice. They are operated by the Department of Agriculture, the Rice Department, Department of Science Services and National Bureau of Agricultural Commodities and Food Standards.

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