BANGKOK, July 19: Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ate rice prepared from stocks allegedly contaminated with toxic chemical preservatives to reassure consumers following a social media-fuelled public scare over the safety of the country’s staple food.
Inspecting a rice packing factory in Ayuthhya province, 70 km north of the capital yesterday, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Public Health Minister, tasted a portion cooked from a sample of a popular packed brand of Thailand’s famed jasmine rice.
The public should have confidence in the rice sold in the market, the Prime Minister said.
“There are enough standard tests before the rice is packed. The problem may happen in some but not all processes,” Ms Yingluck said, adding that the public health ministry would conduct tests to ensure that packed rice sold in the market was safe to eat.
Newspapers and TV news channels in Thailand have turned the spotlight on chemical fumigation of packed rice after a popular TV channel host posted a message on social media last week warning consumers of potential health risks from two packed rice brands said to be tainted with chemical preservatives.
The announcement of findings this week of a test conducted by consumer organisations on a large number of packed rice samples, showing that most samples contained amounts of methyl bromide beyond internationally permissible limits, had added to the controversy.
Authorities also fear widespread media publicity of the issue could impact the country’s most famous export which is already facing stiff competition from cheaper Indian and Vietnamese rice. (UNI)
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