Street vendor fruit not safe

Urgh, thanks man….there goes my fruit diet…

 

 

Street vendor fruit not safe

The State
A survey of Bangkok's ubiquitous fruit carts that sell snack bags filled with juicy watermelon chunks, papaya slivers and exotic treats such as pickled guava, has found the fruit also contains unsafe levels of bacteria and chemicals that help keep it looking fresh in the heat.

The Prime Minister's Office launched a one-month campaign Monday to encourage fruit vendors and their suppliers to improve hygiene and provide consumers with safe, clean fruit.

Authorities warned that another survey will be taken at the end of the month, after which vendors selling contaminated fruit will face up to two years in prison and fines of 20,000 baht ($650).

The study, conducted throughout August by Bangkok City Hall, the Thai Food and Drug Administration and other health agencies, sampled fruit from 38 vendors across the capital, where baggies packed with chunks of watermelon or pineapple sell for 10 baht (30 cents).

Results of the study found that 67% of 153 samples contained unsafe amounts of coliform bacteria. Coliform is common in digestive tracts and does not necessarily cause sickness, but its presence may indicate fecal matter, E-coli and other disease-causing organisms.

 

http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2010/article9245.html