Yet Another Reason to Avoid Salt
By Talen on Jun 18, 2010 in Thailand News
As we all know salt adds much needed taste to many things as well as not so much needed problems to our health such as high blood pressure, heart disease, edema and kidney stones. Apparently Some Thai salt can be even worse for your health thanks in part to an extra ingredient…Cyanide.
Public health Ministry Permanent Secretary has made a statement regarding salt found on the Lame Chabang Beach, warning people to avoid collecting it for consumption as it has been found to contain traces of cyanide. Obviously I doubt any of my readers will be collecting their own salt but there is more than a good chance that you could come into contact with tainted salt so you may want to abstain for a while if you are in the area.
The salt in question was recently found to contain a highly toxic form of cyanide that when ingested mixes quickly in the blood depriving it of oxygen. More tests are being done on the salt which was found on Lame Chabang beach after the tide had gone out. This isn’t the same salt that is generally seen harvested in the area as the top picture shows. The salt collected on this beach is generally collected by local residents in small quantities but it is also sold and could wind up in a restaurant .
The salt in question has been taken to the Chon Buri Department of health for further testing. Doctor Warachit, of the CBDH, added that the symptoms after eating this substance include dizziness, feeling weak and giddy. Therefore, anyone who has ingested the substance and shows any of the above signs should make their way to their Doctor or hospital.
Talen is Lame Chabang beach in Pattaya? I have a feeling its not near the usual brine salt farms of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram.
Mind you I have often wondered about the salt produced in those places and whether it is actually checked since there are plenty of vendors at the side of Highway 35 selling the stuff that comes from the adjacent fields.
Nice to see the Health Ministry is on the ball.
Mike | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
“the symptoms after eating this substance include dizziness, feeling weak and giddy.”
Hmmm… Add to that a light wallet and it sounds just like the symptoms experienced after a week in Pattaya.
Chuck Wow | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
I’m a salt-aholic (not reformed). As a lass I’d hide in the basement sucking on salt rocks (and yeah, I now know the risks and I… I… I…). But cyanide as well? Ouch.
Catherine | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
Cat, that made me laugh so hard. You would get along great with my sister she is a butter addict. When we were kids she would get sticks of butter out of the fridge and eat them like pop sickles.
Talen | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
Chuck, a week? I’ve experienced those symptoms after 1 night.
Talen | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
Mike, it’s very close to Pattaya…both are in Chonburi.
The salt farms in the area are apparently okay…then again there is no word on whether that salt has been tested as they just divert sea water for their farms.
Talen | Jun 18, 2010 | Reply
Chuck & Talen, right now I’d kill for those Pattaya feelings. Being there for the World Cup’s duration would be my idea of bliss. An afternoon spent with a few beers in a go go bar followed by some TV football, heaven is how I’d describe it. It brings salt flavoured tears to my eyes thinking about what I’m missing.
Martyn | Jun 19, 2010 | Reply
You an me both Martyn, my world cup experience in Pattaya was world class and the cute Thai cheerleaders made the experience that much better.
Talen | Jun 20, 2010 | Reply