Thailand inspection finds imported Shine Muscat grapes safe for consumption

By VNA November 12, 2024 | 08:42 pm PT

Shine Muscat grapes are seen in an illustration photo by Pixabay

All imported Shine Muscat grapes have met food safety standards, according to the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), responding to public concern about recent reports of chemical contamination.

The agency’s food and drug inspection division seized 6.93 tonnes of the grapes on Nov. 5 to run chemical residue tests, under its Hold Test Release protocol.

The fruit met all regulatory standards, so the FDA approved them for import and domestic sale, its deputy director-general Lertchai Lertvut said.

Public concern arose last month when the Thailand Consumers’ Council reported that 23 out of 24 Shine Muscat grape samples it tested were found to contain hazardous chemical residues beyond the acceptable legal limit.

Some were contaminated with chlorpyrifos and endrin aldehyde, which are banned under Thai food safety laws.

Shine Muscat grapes are a variety originating from Japan that features a yellow-green hue, crisp flesh, no seeds, and delightful sweetness.