Thread: Vegetables and fruits in student lunches heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals

Vegetables and fruits found in lunches for students under the government-sponsored lunch programme are almost 100 percent contaminated with pesticides and 99 percent of the urine samples from students and teachers in four provinces were tested with organophosphate, a deadly toxic pesticide that attacks nervous system.


The above alarming findings were the result of a research jointly conducted by Thai Education Foundation, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Field Alliance of Chiangmai University and Greenpeace Thailand during July 2017-October 2018 on student lunches in 55 schools in Chiang Mai, Pathum Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Phang-nga provinces.


Vegetables which are widely used in student lunches which were tested include carrot, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, long bean and tomato. However, only two types of chemicals were tested – organophosphate and pyrethrum because organophosphate are widely used in insecticides for fruits and vegetables.


Thai Education Foundation secretary-general Marut Jatikate said that the most alarming findings appear to be the organophosphate residue found in 99 percent of the 436 urine samples from students and teachers in the four provinces.


Organophosphate poisoning symptoms include increased saliva and tear production, diarrhea, vomiting, small pupils, sweating, muscle tremors and confusion.


He said that the tests this time focused on two chemicals – organophosphate and pyrethrum – but they should have covered more toxic chemicals.


Nevertheless, he said findings from this research would be sent to the schools and parents of students in order that they would change the menu of student lunches but switching from mass-produced vegetables and fruits to organic vegetables and fruits which should be safer.


Besides the unsafe fruits and vegetables, Mr Marut said meat, meat balls and sausages used in student lunches were also found to be contaminated with borax and formalin.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/vegetab...xic-chemicals/

Nevertheless, he said findings from this research would be sent to the schools and parents of students in order that they would change the menu of student lunches but switching from mass-produced vegetables and fruits to organic vegetables and fruits which should be safer.

JFC...wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly, including organic.

Added cost: Zero baht.

Originally Posted by cyrille

JFC...wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly

What? Just under running water? Nah, that's the old way.

How to Remove Pesticides from Fruits and Vegetables

• Fill a large bowl with 4 parts water to 1 part plain white vinegar.
• Soak the fruit or vegetables you'd like to clean in the mixture for 20 minutes.
• Rinse the fruit or vegetables well with water. Studies have shown that washing your produce can reduce the pesticide residue, but won't eliminate all pesticides.

Was the produce from Australia.

Originally Posted by Mozzbie47

Was the produce from Australia.

Could not have come from an Australian farm. I spoke to my 3 eyed cousin with an adams apple the size of a tennis ball whose family has been farming in Australia for 5 generations and he assures me the food is safe as houses and chemical free.

Ignorance is bliss. You can tell them that they are poisoning their own children and what will they do about it? Not a damn thing.

Originally Posted by cyrille

JFC...wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly, including organic.

Added cost: Zero baht.

wash them with tap water? not what comes through our taps at 27bht.a cubic mtr.i WONT.its just as bad.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

Could not have come from an Australian farm. I spoke to my 3 eyed cousin with an adams apple the size of a tennis ball whose family has been farming in Australia for 5 generations and he assures me the food is safe as houses and chemical free.

Oh, so he lives in Tasmania.