Thailand’s e-commerce giants crack down on illegal foods

Thailand’s online shoppers can soon breathe a sigh of relief as two e-commerce giants, Lazada and Shopee, have vowed to sweep dangerous food products off their platforms within 24 hours.

In a significant move to protect consumers, the companies are joining forces with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure only safe, certified foods hit digital shelves.

Lertchai Lertwut, the FDA Deputy Secretary-General, revealed on Tuesday, November 5, that he met with representatives from Lazada and Shopee to tackle the issue of unregulated foods slipping through the cracks of online shopping.

“We want to ensure that Thai consumers are not exposed to dangerous, uncertified products.”

During the meeting, both platforms agreed to remove food products lacking FDA registration numbers within 24 hours, demonstrating their commitment to public safety.

Lertchai highlighted Lazada’s impressive efforts.

“From September last year to the same month this year, Lazada has removed 9,454 non-compliant food items and banned 30 law-breaking shops.”

Legal action was also taken against 134 shops on Lazada for selling unlawful products.

Shopee, on its part, pledged to intensify efforts by educating sellers on the legal requirements for food items and swiftly removing any illegal products found. The two companies also agreed to develop an automated system linking their platforms with the FDA’s database to swiftly flag and remove uncertified products.

Taking it a step further, Lertchai announced that the FDA plans to launch its own AI system dedicated to scanning online platforms for dangerous products. Additionally, FDA officials will be trained to work with the police and other agencies through online channels, ensuring rapid legal action against violators, reported The Nation.

In related news, an unexpected discovery in a bowl of soup left a consumer feeling queasy, after mistaking a band-aid for a piece of chicken.

A member of the Facebook group พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค (We Are Consumers) recently shared their unsettling experience by posting a photo and a caption. Initially believing they had bitten into chicken skin, it turned out to be a band-aid.