absolutelyBangkok archive · Food & Drink
Originally published Sept. 23, 2008
Over a friend of a friend of a friend I got an SMS that reads: “Pls help to sms to others — FYI the following items have been recalled due 2 china’s milk situation…” — listing a wide array of products available in Thailand allegedly made from milk in China.
Not that I trust food safety in Thailand — but I wondered: Who recalled those products? The SMS concludes with: “Stores hv been asked by ava 2 remove them. If u hav any of these items in yr hse don’t eat them.”
Who the heck is “ava.” The “Agri-food and Veterinary Authority” (AVA) of Singapore it turns out. Right, the warning originates in Singapore that knows much stricter food safety controls than Thailand. But most listed items are available in Thailand as well.
Listed items are: M&Ms, Snickers peanut bars, Dove chocolate bars, Oreo wafer sticks, Magnum ice cream & Mini Classics ice cream, Moo Sandwich ice cream, Monmilk milk, Wall’s Mini Cornettos ice cream, Mentos Yoghurt Bottle, etc.
7-Eleven and other stores in Singapore have each yanked dozens of products made with milk from China from their shelves. Or the same items you buy in Thailand originate from different factories? Don’t think so. Check the fine print on the wrappings.
But then again, even products made in other countries than China can have ingredients from China. Do I want to spoil your appetite? No way. But somebody in Thailand does not want to spoil the reputation of China. That’s why it’s no news here.
There’s big money involved. Supermarkets could end up losing big if suppliers would refuse to give refunds.
And what about baby milk powder? Better play it safe.
I’m just saying. Or maybe we’re used to too many chemicals in Thailand’s food chain already. Maybe that seafood we recently recommended is quite safe after all…
From the absolutelyBangkok archive. Back to all stories