The Thai government is very much concerned about food safety and is taking many steps to improve the current situation. This includes an active policy on pesticide registration, which has resulted in banning of the most toxic pesticides in the past few years. Unfortunately there are also still some very toxic and controversial products being used and further action is required, especially for pesticides that are on the “watch list”.
The government is also very active in efforts to educate farmers in integrated pest management, good agricultural practices, organic farming, and sustainable agriculture. Laboratories are in place to test agricultural products for residues and farmers who are producing quality products are certified.
Not only the government but also several NGOs and private companies are actively promoting better agricultural practices. Many department stores and supermarkets have now become outlets of safe-labeled fruits and vegetables.
Despite all these efforts, the pesticide issue is not a problem that will be solved overnight. To speed up the process, consumers can play an active role by making a positive choice for food that is certified to be safe or food that is grown by organic farmers.
But is it healthy to eat?
But is it healthy to eat?