consumer confidence
Rice is the staple food in this country. Each Thai is estimated to consume 163 kilograms of rice a year. So it has been shocking for consumers to learn that, in random tests, several samples of packaged rice were found to be tainted with high levels of methyl bromide, which is used to kill rice-eating bugs. The tests were carried out by the Foundation for Consumers.
Traces of methyl bromide were found in 34 of 46 random samples of packaged rice sold under 36 brand names. The tests found 12 samples free of contamination, according to Saree Ongsomwang, secretary-general for the foundation.
The methyl bromide in one sample exceeded the safe level, with 67.4 milligrams per kilogram. The Food and Agriculture Organisation codex states that methyl bromide in food should not exceed 50 milligrams per kilogram.
The findings are different from those of three state agencies. The Medical Sciences Department recently teamed up with the Food and Drug Administration to conduct tests on 54 samples of packaged rice, and found only tiny traces of methyl bromide and no sign of any other pesticides. Separately, the Agriculture Department tested 10 brands of rice and found no contamination.
Methyl bromide is a poisonous gas or liquid used in fumigant to kill a wide spectrum of pests, including soil-borne fungi, worms, weeds, insects, mites and rodents. It was used extensively as a pesticide until being phased out by most countries in the early 2000s. In the United States methyl bromide is regulated as a hazardous substance. European Union member governments agreed to phase out its use by 2005.
A growing body of evidence has indicated that methyl bromide can cause damage both to human health and the environment. It is a recognised ozone-depleting chemical. Recent studies have linked methyl bromide to an increased risk of cancer and motor neurone disease, according to the UK-based Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International, a not-for-profit development-and-information organisation.
Most consumers would certainly have been unaware that such a hazardous substance has been widely used on their daily food staple. The government and the relevant state agencies should take immediate actions to rectify this situation and thus assure the public that Thai rice is safe to eat. Regular tests need to be conducted on rice sold in this country, particularly the packaged rice that's popular among consumers.
Occasional tests conducted following bad news about rice are insufficient to restore consumer confidence. Rice must be sufficiently safe for both the domestic and export markets. This staple food of all Thais should be free from hazardous substances, or it could become a major threat to people's health. The more that people eat rice contaminated with harmful residues, the more long-term health risks they are exposed to.
Unlike many food items, it is not compulsory for packaged rice to bear the FDA's safety label. This needs to change, and consumers will demand that it becomes compulsory if their fears are not alleviated. Every pack of rice in the market must be subject to the FDA's stringent rules to get a safety label. This will help to not only restore consumer confidence in Thai rice, but also save taxpayers money on medical treatment for those who fall ill from consuming tainted rice.