OPINION

Old rice, new debate

Re: "Lab tests show rice 'edible' ", (BP, May 20) & "Push to sell old rice raises questions", (Post, May 19).

With due respect to that private lab's finding of 10-year-old rice stored in Surin as free from aflatoxins and other chemical residues, an internet search with the words "expiration of rice" said otherwise: "Dry white rice has a shelf life of up to 2 years ... Mould contamination in expired rice may lead to mycotoxin intake, which may be detrimental to your health."

In a prior Sunday front-page report, "Push to sell old rice raises questions", it was stated that 17.8 million tonnes were sold for 146 billion baht (8,200 baht/tonne) in 2018. Now, the hope is to auction these 15,000 tonnes of "expired" rice for a price of 270 million baht (18,000 baht/tonne).

Am I missing something that the expired rice after five years could fetch 120% more than the price in 2018 (even gold could not rise that much!)? In addition, for 10 years, the storage cost of 380,000 baht per month has amounted to 45 million baht, not to mention the fumigation costs.

The key questions are why it has been kept as a hot potato for so long by officials in the early government and why it is being highlighted now by this government?

A toxic legacy

Re: "Lab tests show rice 'edible' ", (BP, May 20).

I asked Chat GPT, "What are the residual effects of repeated fumigation of rice with methyl bromide?"

It replied, "Methyl bromide can leave behind residues on the surface of rice grains after fumigation. This residue may consist of unreacted methyl bromide or its breakdown products.

Consumption of rice that has been treated with methyl bromide may pose health risks due to the presence of residues. Methyl bromide is a toxic substance, and even small amounts left on the rice grains can potentially be harmful if ingested."

Enquiring how only 15,000 tonnes of rice could be leftover "when the scheme ended in May 2014, roughly 18.6 million tonnes of rice remained," and yet "on Sept 10, 2018, the Prayut administration sold 17.8 million tonnes or 95.7% of the stock," leaving a remainder of 800,000 tonnes, the AI oracle replied diplomatically, "it is difficult to provide more detailed insights into why there was such a large leftover quantity initially and how it gradually reduced over time".

Sixty methyl bromide fumigations of rice over a period of 10 years would leave significant levels of carcinogenic toxic residues. To be sold, the seller must provide copies of each of the certificates of fumigation.

This rice is beyond undesirable, is presumptively inedible, and is unusable for any purpose due to being extensively contaminated.

Those responsible for this malfeasance should be permanently barred from government service.

Fiction vs fact

Re: "Mideast history", (PostBag, May 18) & "Netanyahu wows to invade Rafah", (World, May 2).

I refer to Saturday's PostBag letter from EL Wout. The content appears he is a fan of the style of propaganda promoted by the Nazi minister Joseph Goebbels, that if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.

His description of the emergence and financing of Hamas's control over Gaza is risible.