Markets, restaurants face food checks

PHUKET: Officers from the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) will next month start inspecting restaurants displaying the “Clean Food Good Taste” (CFGT) seal of approval to see whether they have in fact been authorized by the PPHO to display the logo. They will also check fresh produce sold at markets from next month to ensure it is free of harmful chemicals. Announcing the health drive yesterday, PPHO Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong said, “The campaign has two main purposes. First is to make sure that food bought from fresh markets in Phuket is of ‘Best Fresh Market’ quality, which includes being free of contaminants.” Officers, he said, would test fresh produce for six types of contaminants in particular: borax, bleach, potassium nitrate, insecticides or herbicides, formalin and anti-fungal chemicals. The checks are part of a national “Best Fresh Market” campaign to improve and standardize the quality of fresh produce for domestic consumption and for export. Dr Wanchai said the second aim of the campaign is to clamp down on the use of the CFGT logo. Many restaurants, he said, were using the logo without first being inspected and authorized by the PPHO. In response, officers will inspect all restaurants displaying the logo to ensure that cooked food being sold at these restaurants does indeed conform with PPHO standards.