Food safety in Thailand 1: it is safe to eat watermelon and durian in Thailand

Abstract

Objectives The wide use of pesticides raises serious concerns regarding food safety and environmental impacts. There is increasing public concern about the potential health risks linked with exposure to pesticides. Regulation of maximum residue limits (MRL) of pesticide residues in food commodities has been established in many developed countries. For developing countries, like Thailand, this regulation often exists in law, but is not completely enforced in practice. Thus, pesticide residue levels in vegetables and fruits have not been thoroughly monitored. The present study aimed to examine potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure by determining the pesticide residues in two commonly consumed fruits, watermelon and durian. Methods The fruit samples were purchased from markets in central provinces of Thailand and assayed for the content of 28 pesticides. Analysis of pesticides was performed by multiresidue extraction and followed by GC-MS/MS detection. Results Of 28 pesticides investigated, 5 were detected in 90.7 % of the watermelon samples (n = 75) and 3 in 90 % of durian samples (n = 30). Carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dimethoate and metalaxyl were found in watermelons, whereas dichlorvos, dimethoate and metalaxyl were detected in durians. However, their levels were much lower than the recommended MRL values. Conclusions These pesticide levels detected in the fruits are unlikely to harm the consumers; therefore it is safe to eat watermelon and durian in Thailand. While our results found negligible risk associated with pesticide exposure from consuming these common tropical fruits, special precautions should be considered to decrease total exposure to these harmful pesticides from various foods.

Food safety in Thailand. 3: Pesticide residues detected in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), queen of fruits

“…It is evident that these two pesticides are often used in growing mangosteens in Thailand. In addition, this finding coincides with the observation found for a Thai fruit, durian, as reported by Wanwimolruk and colleagues . In that study, dimethoate and metalaxyl emerged as the most commonly used pesticides in cultivation of durians.…”

“…The possible risk to pesticide exposure upon eating watermelon is relatively low. This is because the pesticide residue levels found in watermelon are low and unlikely to harm the consumers; therefore, it is safe to eat watermelon in Thailand . With respect to pesticide contamination in tangerine, guava and pineapple, there is no data for comparison with that of mangosteen.…”

“…In addition, this finding coincides with the observation found for a Thai fruit, durian, as reported by Wanwimolruk and colleagues. 32 In that study, dimethoate and metalaxyl emerged as the most commonly used pesticides in cultivation of durians. Unlike mangosteens, the levels of these pesticides detected in durian samples were well below their recommended MRL values.…”

“…This is because the pesticide residue levels found in watermelon are low and unlikely to harm the consumers; therefore, it is safe to eat watermelon in Thailand. 32,36 With respect to pesticide contamination in tangerine, guava and pineapple, there is no data for comparison with that of mangosteen. Thus, possible risks from these fruits could not be assessed and compared with mangosteen.…”

Uptake and Dissipation of Carbofuran and Its Metabolite in Chinese Kale and Brinjal Cultivated Under Humid Tropic Climate

“…ese include a news report of 900 kg of vegetables tainted with carbofuran from Malaysia and ailand [4] and e European Commission has also reported a residue concentration of 0.33 mg/kg in fresh Chinese kale imported to Finland from ailand [5]. e concern is further escalated with more claims of excessive use of carbofuran in durian and watermelon from ailand, as pointed out by Wanwimolruk et al [6].…”