PHICHIT – The public health office in Phichit province has found that several vegetables commonly used in vegetarian dishes during the lunar festival are often covered in pesticides.
Phichit public health officials led consumer protection officials and representatives from the Regional Medical Sciences Center 3 to collect samples of various crops typically sold to Thai-Chinese locals during the lunar vegetarian festival.
Preliminary examinations indicated that several vegetables including cabbage, lentils and broccoli tested positive for high levels of pesticides. The public health office has urged consumers to thoroughly rinse their vegetables several times or with potassium permanganate, a strong oxidizing agent.
The warning comes as the vegetarian festival enters its fourth day. The nine-day festival this year lasts from October 13 – 21.
