CHON BURI: A sausage maker in this province has been arrested after young children allegedly fell ill from eating his products.
Sinarit Srathongseethun, 38, was nabbed by consumer protection police in tambon Nong Khang Khok of Muang district on Thursday.
He was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Chon Buri Provincial Court for alleged collusion in producing substandard food products, operating a substandard food factory and other offences, Consumer Protection Police Division commander Pol Maj Gen Anan Nanasombat said yesterday.
The arrest came after many children were hospitalised after eating contaminated sausages earlier this year. They were diagnosed with methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder.
Consumer protection police traced the food to a sausage factory in Chon Buri.
Accompanied by officials from the Food and Drug Administration, police raided a house that doubled as a factory in tambon Ban Suan of Muang district in February. They seized 32 items, including food products and manufacturing equipment, worth 700,000 baht.
After lab tests showed the products were contaminated, Mr Sinarit and his wife Rakthawee Khunpaeng, 35, were summonsed by investigators to acknowledge the charges. Ms Rakthawee reported but Mr Sinarit fled and remained at large until Thursday.