Toxins found in food from China

HEALTH IMPORTS BLACKLISTED

Imports of popular Chinese Fruit, vegetables and food products were blacklisted yesterday after tests found high levels of toxic contamination and cancer-causing chemicals residues.

The tests were conducted by the Department of Medical Science and the Food and Drug Administration on about 11.500 food items.

They revealed dangerously high pesticide residues in Chinese spinach, white greens, carrots, celery, pears and collard greens, department chief Paichit Warachit said.

Sulphur dioxide residues were also found in dried herbs such as Chinese pyrethrum and white mushrooms, excessive amounts of lead in dried shark fin and seasoned seaweed, the carcinogenic drug chloramphenol in goat milk powder, and the artificial sweetener saccharine in dried fruit snacks such as dried plums.

Jelly, candy and gum imported from China were also found to contain banned artificial colourings, and fungi were detected in soft drinks and preserved fruits.

“ China’s food production process is of poor quality because they focus on mass production rather than quality control,” said Dr. Paichit.

“We will try our best to inspect all Chinese products before allowing them to enter Thailand.”

Dr. Prachit said food products from China would be closely examined at major entry points, including Chiang Saen port, Chiang Khong and Mae Sai check points in Chiang Rai to safeguard Thai consumers. Shipments would be destroyed or returned to China if they were found to be unsafe.

Chinag Saen on the Mekong river, is the main trading post between Thailand and southern provinces of China. Most products from China are shipped along the river to the district.

Chinese vegetables, fruit and food products have flooded into Thailand since the Thai-Chinese free trade agreement took effect in October 2003.

The agreement reduced tariffs from 30% to zero for about 200 fruits and vegetables.

The Bangkok Post – Thailand, 17-8-2007

Collected by Antoni P. Uni – Bangkok 17-8-2007

Extract Bangkok Post 17-8-2007:

Beijing – Beijing yesterday hit out at the foreign press and "irresponsible people" for raising fears about Chinese-made toys and other exports that have been recalled due to safety concerns.
"Some media and irresponsible people take a small problem and make it into a large one," Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpel said when asked about various recalls, most recently by US toy giant Mattel. "The Chinese government opposes these actions."…………..

………….But the media saying all Chinese products are bad, this is a shame," he said…………….

It should be good when China starts investigating and upgrading their controls before starting offending in this way: part of the list: dangerous products, bad quality, life threatening products, dangerous and even deadly fake medicines,
ill and dead consumers, pirated and copied products etc. etc.

Indian wants dogs in soup

NEW DELHI: New Delhi’s stray dogs lead a difficult life. But if it was up to one city councillor, they would have find themselves in more hot water – soup to be precise.

Shipping the thousands of strays to Korea, where dog meat is widely consumed in soup, was one of the more outlandish ideas proposed at a city council meeting to deal with the problem, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported yesterday.

City councilor Mohan Prashad Bharadwaj said he had read that Koreans are fond of dog meat and “maybe we can send all the stray dogs of Delhi there”, the paper quoted him as saying. AP

Source: the Bangkok Post – Thailand, 17-8-2007

Collected by Antoni P. Uni – Bangkok 17-8-2007

Went to a local restaurant last night for dinner

Had the same meal as always, sirloin steak with Japanese side dishes of sushi and the like. Good meal, a couple of bottle's of beer, the enjoyment of my wife's company.

When the bill came it listed a T-Bone steak at twice the price of a sirloin.

I pointed this out to the waitress (new at this particular establishment and judging by her age not a new-comer to the service industry but Thai language only).

The waitress said that I must be mistaken; I had definitely eaten a

T-Bone. I told her that it was definitely a sirloin. She said "no, definitely a T-Bone, I served it to you, I should know". I then asked her where the bone was, and she replied "you must have eaten it sir".

By this time my wife and I were in hysterics. We called the owner over, who is a personal friend, and quickly remedied the situation.

A post in the “Thai Visa Forum”, April 2007

Collected by Antoni P. Uni, Bangkok 2007

“local” prices for Farangs

Asking for the price of a pair of trousers in a small shop in The Mall Bangkapi I got the answer: Baht 1.700. Noticing my face the shop-owner came quickly with the following explanation: “it is less expensive than in America Sir!”

As the articles were not priced and as I saw him giving a price with a calculator in his hand to a Thai I decided not to argue and left the shop.

Antoni P. Uni, Bangkok April 2007

“International” book-store in a big shopping-mall

Asking in a SE-ED book-shop in The Mall Bangkapi for English books the respond was “no have Sir”, this in spite of a big billboard showing the rules for returning bought books in Thai and……in English

Antoni P. Uni, Bangkok April 2007

Tourist abducts Thai elephant

May 1, 2007, 11:42 PM

BANGKOK, May 1 (UPI) — A tourist's mistakes in Thailand after crashing his car included fleeing the scene, abducting a baby elephant en route and turning to light a cigarette.

Yoram Ben-Hamo of Israel got involved in a police chase during the weekend in a village south of the Thai capital after crashing his car into three others and injuring a motorcyclist, Israel's YnetNews reported Tuesday.

The foot chase started after Ben-Hamo fled the accident scene. Police say they suspect he was drunk.

While running from police, the visitor took a knife from a merchant, the report said. Later, he happened upon the baby elephant in the nearby woods.

When police arrived at the scene, Ben-Hamo reportedly threatened to harm his captive if not left alone. A hostage-negotiation team also arrived. Ben-Hamo made the mistake of accepting a cigarette from a team member and getting distracted while trying to light it so police were able to capture him.

The baby elephant was returned home safely.

Ben-Hamo was convicted of kidnapping the elephant -- the animal is the national symbol of Thailand -- and holding it hostage, the report said. Local media reports indicted Ben-Hamo was let off with a small fine.

Copyright © 2007 by United Press International