BANGKOK, 20 March 2013The Food and Drug Association (FDA) has introduced a new penalty for food vendors found repeatedly using the same frying oils for cooking.
FDA Secretary-General, Dr. Boonchai Somboonsuk, said on Tuesday that a new Public Health Ministry announcement has been released to declare a penalty for food vendors, whose frying oils are found with POLAR compounds of over 25%, which is the maximum level allowed.
Dr. Boonchai stated that the new regulation has been initiated to protect consumers from excess polar compounds, which can cause high blood pressure, stroke and cancer.
He added that vendors, who are found guilty of over-using cooking oil, have been subject to a maximum fine of 10,000 baht, since March 13.
The FDA Secretary-General went on to say that, once corresponding law has been put into effect, the FDA will collaborate with related agencies to dispatch mobile test units to all parts of the country to conduct a test on cooking oil and to offer education on the right use of oil for cooking to both vendors and consumers.