On October 24, 2024, the Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) together with the Consumer Foundation’s Chalard Sue magazine announced the results of the toxic substance test in 24 samples of Shine Muscat grapes.
Ms. Tasanee Naen-udon, Chalard Sue magazine, Consumer Foundation, said that Shine Muscat grapes sold in Thailand are easy to find and buy. In some places, they cost 3 boxes for 100 baht and are sold in general markets and retail stores. Therefore, we randomly sampled 24 samples from 2 online markets, 5 mobile vendors, and modern trade that pack and sell.
We collected 1 kg. per sample and they had to come from different sources. We tested 400 samples for toxic substances.
Ms. Prakchol U-traph, Thai-PAN Pesticide Alert Network, revealed that from the results of the examination of the sources of Shine Muscat grapes, it was found that 2 samples were ordered online, 7 samples from shops and markets, and 15 samples from modern trade. We were able to identify 9 samples from China. The other 15 samples could not be identified.
It was found that 23 out of 24 samples had toxic residues exceeding the legal limit. One sample was found to contain chlorpyrifos, which is a type 4 hazardous substance and is already banned in Thailand. According to the law, it should not be detected because the MRL has been cancelled. As for the other 22 grapes, 14 types of toxic residues were found to exceed the default limit because there is no law specifying it and they are not used in Thailand.
In addition, grape samples were found to contain toxins that are not on the Thai hazardous substance list, so there was no safety assessment. In addition, most of the substances found were pesticides, which is why the grapes found could last for months.
40% were pesticides and 56% were pesticides, and these substances are absorbed into the grape tissue, allowing the grapes to last for months. Washing alone does not help.
Twenty-four grape samples were found to have residues of between 7 and 18 types, with 23 types out of the 24 samples found to have residues exceeding the legal limit of 50 types. Of these, 23 were agricultural chemicals according to Thai law under the Hazardous Substances Act.
In addition, it is recommended that modern trade stores and distributors of Shine Muscat grapes that have been randomly sampled and found to have residues exceeding the legal limit should show responsibility by removing them from shelves. If they are sold out, clear measures should be announced to suppliers and sources of production with residues. Imports should be canceled, and the source and country of origin should be identified so that traceability can be traced back if there is a problem.
Key findings of the Shine Muscat grape residue monitoring include: 24 Shine Muscat grape production countries, 2 samples purchased online, 7 samples from shops and markets, and 15 samples from modern trade, only 9 samples could be identified as coming from China, while the remaining 15 samples could not be identified. 95.8% of Shine Muscat grape samples, or 23 out of 24 samples, were found to have residues exceeding the legal limit as follows:
1 grape sample was found to have chlorpyrifos, a type 4 hazardous substance, which by law must not be detected because the MRL has been repealed.
Another 22 grape samples were found to have residues of 14 types of hazardous substances exceeding the default limit. (Residues without MRLs as defined by law to be no more than the default limit of 0.01 mg/kg) which may not have been assessed for safety include Procymidone, Imazalil, Thiamethoxam, Tetraconazole, Chlorfenapyr, Flonicamid, Ethirimol, Pyriproxyfen, Lufenuron, Bupirimate, Prochloraz, Hexaconazole, Bromacil and Isopyrazam.
A total of 50 residues were found, of which 26 were Type 3 hazardous substances, 2 were Type 4 hazardous substances (revoked in Thailand), namely Chlorpyrifos and Endrin aldehyde, and 22 were substances that were not on the list of hazardous substances, which have not been assessed. Under Thai law, these include Triasulfuron, Cyflumetofen, Flonicamid, Chlorantraniliprole, Etoxazole, Spirotetramat,
Bifenazate, Dinotefuran, Fluopyram, Boscalid, Fluopicolide, Pyrimethanil, Ametoctradin, Tetraconazole, Ethirimol, Metrafenone, Fludioxonil, Bupirimate, Isopyrazam, Oxathiapiprolin, Biphenyl and Cyazofamid.
Out of 50 pesticide residues, 37 are systemic pesticides, or 74% of the total pesticide residues. These pesticides are likely to remain in grape tissue, and removing them from plant tissue is unlikely to be easy.
Each sample of Shine Muscat grapes contained between 7-18 pesticide residues, with 23 out of 24 samples containing 1-6 pesticide residues exceeding the legal limit.
Information from the Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN)
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