Authorities are running checks on pork obtained from several vendors at a major market in Pathum Thani to see if the samples were contaminated with the potentially harmful substance borax.
The move comes after the samples were found to be tainted with food preservatives. Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) officers inspected Si Mum Muang market in Pathum Thani yesterday and performed spot checks on pork samples taken from 36 vendors.
The results showed samples from eight vendors contained food preservatives, Pol Lt Col Apichai Lai-on, a CPPD deputy superintendent said. The samples were sent to a lab for further tests. No word was to hand on how long they will take.
If they are found to be tainted with the banned borax preservative, the vendors will be charged with selling tainted food, which carries a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of 20,000 baht maximum.
CPPD commander Prasert Pattanadee said the pork was among a range of produce tested at the market, one of the biggest food suppliers in Pathum Thani.
He said consumer complaints prompted the inspection. The division has focused its attention on testing for borax, often used illegally by some vendors to keep meat looking fresh longer.
The CPPD also took fish and chicken samples for further lab tests. A pork vendor, who declined to be named, yesterday said the preservatives were usually added by some vendors to minced pork.
Keskaew Jesoh, deputy chief of the Pathum Thani public health office, said consumers may have eaten borax-tainted meats without realising it, as the chemical is odourless and colourless. Borax can cause kidney failure and lessen brain function.
