Food Safety

[Siani]

My son sent me this article about Durian Fruit. I think it is an aquired taste, I have tried it, but to be honest, do not really enjoy eating it! Anyway, I have read that it also can be dangerous in certain circumastances! I always thought about drinking and driving, but eating Durian and drinking...well read this!

Quote: Durian is a fruit that grows throughout southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruit has a distinctive odour that has been compared to a strong cheese, almonds, or manure. Because of this, some public transportation systems in Asia have forbidden passengers to carry the durian.

The soft flesh of the durian is encased in a hard, thorny covering, and if one of these fruits was to fall on your head, you could be seriously hurt. But the durian can also prove deadly in combination with alcohol. According to researchers at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, Durian contains a sulphur-like compound that, when ingested, makes it hard for the liver to break down alcohol.

So if you’ve been drinking to excess and snacking on Durian, you may be at risk for liver damage or even severe alcohol poisoning that could prove fatal.

[PeteC]

We talk about that at home here every year during durian season. The wife mentions that the Thai newspapers usually have about a dozen articles each season about death caused by that. The real numbers are probably much more. Pete

EDIT: The papers always seem to state that the body overheats and/or huge BP spike that does it.

[Takiap]

Yes, I've also been told it raises body temperature, and as such, should only be eaten in moderation. I know one thing, the Thais just love it, and for those farm it, nice profits can be had. In fact, at one time in history, people had to pay a special tax if they had a tree on their property, and they needed special permission to cut it down as well. Must admit, the taste is okay, but the smell just put's me off. I eat according to three factors:

1. Visual appearance
2. Taste
3. Smell


Any food that fails in one of those departments doesn't get past my lips....lol.

[margaretcarnes]

I've also heard warnings from Thai people about dangers of eating too much Jack Fruit - which I love. I was told no more than 5 pieces or 'very bad for stomach.' Maybe a similar effect to durian?
So bottom line is - although we all know that buying fruit ready prep'd in little plastic bags is costing much more than buying a whole fruit from the market - perhaps it is safer because the locals understand safe limits better than us farang?

[Takiap]

I've also heard warnings from Thai people about dangers of eating too much Jack Fruit - which I love. I was told no more than 5 pieces or 'very bad for stomach.

Well, that doesn't seem to be the case in our home. Even the kids eat more than that and it's never bothered them. Don't forget, the Thais can sometimes have some very strange ideas.

[littlebird]

I asked Tescos how long I could keep a chicken in the freezer, they told me 2 months but I put one in the freezer last night and it was dead when I woke up

[lindosfan1]

ROFL

[johnnyk]

I asked Tescos how long I could keep a chicken in the freezer, they told me 2 months but I put one in the freezer last night and it was dead when I woke up

Poor thing froze to death in the dark. What a way to go.

[charlesh]

Yeap very funny!
I am amazed with the rather unsanitary display of meats/fish at the wet markets accompanied by the myriad of flies, cross contaminated knives/cleavers, wrapping materials of dubious origin and food handlers who have definitely not passed the "Safe food, Happy food course" that food poisoning is NOT apparently such a problem. I guess the secret is in the cooking at very hot temperatures OR the excess of chillies that are added.
PS I have seen Chinese in Malaysia gorge themselves after having driven many kilometers during the "season" for the best on that horrible Durian and amazingly survive.

[littlebird]

I think its the very hot oil that does the trick. the chillies disguise any hint of an off taste. Hencemaybe why most hot countries use hot spices
What you talking about - durian is lovely - the stronger the better

[Roel]

One of my favourite fruits is lam yai (longan). I tend to eat a lot of it once I get going, much like crisps where for some mysterious reason you cannot stop until there are no left. The missus warned me in the past that you cannot eat too much of it. It will "hurt the mouth", raise body temperature and it causes watery eyes. I can confirm at least the last two symptoms from personal experience. The symptoms occurred the next day so at first I did not connect it to the lam yai, but the missus kindly reminded me that she had warned me.

[Takiap]

In my 13+ years in Thailand, I have only had food poisoning once, and that was from a fancy Japanese restaurant in Bangkok.

While the missus often buys meat from Tesco, I always buy from the local "side-of-the-road" guy, and never had a problem yet. Also, I enjoy Isaan style beef laab, which of course consists of raw beef, and still, no problems at all.

Now, I haven't checked statistics, but if you ask me, food poisoning is no more prevalent here than it is in other countries. I've been sick from food in my own country and in the UK, so obviously those high hygiene standards don't really make that much difference. Well maybe they do, but only financially because all those health inspectors and red tape costs money.


We had friends over from the UK a while back and took them to one of those buffet places in town. As soon as we started, my mate commented on the fact that we're working with raw meat and veggies, and what about cross contamination. I asked how he could eat the meat, to which he replied that's it would be okay because the meat will be cooked. Then I pointed out that the veggies are going into the soup, and will therefor be cooked as well - he did end up eating the soup, but you could just see the concern on his face. Talk about being conditioned


Look, if you spend all your life in a sterile room, and you're then let out, you're obviously going to get sick, simply because your body has never had a chance to build up an immunity.


On a slightly different note - you'll notice the Thais use loads of garlic in their cooking, and while I know they use it for flavor, garlic is actually quite effective at killing germs, bacteria, parasites, and etc. A quick Google search will reveal all