Toxic tuna scare: The lab that is our first line of defence against dodgy food
In a state-of-the-art laboratory complex in eastern Bangkok, a team of highly trained microbiologists and food scientists form the first line of defence before foreign food products hit Australian shores.
The Daily Telegraph was granted exclusive access inside the hi-tech laboratories, set up by the Australian science testing giant ALS in 2011.
Tuna tins and other popular Thai seafood products arrive at the complex as samples before they are broken down through a careful scientific process.
IN a state-of-the-art laboratory complex in eastern Bangkok, a team of highly trained microbiologists and food scientists form the first line of defence before foreign food products hit Australian shores.
The Daily Telegraph was granted exclusive access inside the hi-tech laboratories, set up by the Australian science testing giant ALS in 2011.
Tuna tins and other popular Thai seafood products arrive at the complex as samples before they are broken down through a careful scientific process.
Lab workers test products before they hit Australian shores.
The ALS Bangkok lab is the first line of defence for both exports and imports.
The facility, which employs more than 200 Thai scientists and workers, tests thousands of samples each year in one of the world’s biggest food exporting nations.
Fish are tested for histamines while other foods — including fruit, vegetables, rice and packaged foods — are put through a rigorous process including an oven room and salmonella testing machines.
Chemical analysis helps crunch data for nutrition labelling, including vitamin and mineral groups, food additives and preservatives, antibiotics and pesticide residues.
Imported products into Thailand, including frozen berries are also tested.
Global ALS Life Sciences Division general manager Tim Kilmister told The Daily Telegraph high profile food scandals — such as those including histamine, salmonella and listeria — had “increased consumer awareness towards both domestic and imported products”.
“Thailand has a large agricultural and food manufacturing industry,” Mr Kilmister said.
“Producing food products for domestic consumption as well as significant quantities for export to Asian countries and other international destinations including, Australia, Europe and the US.”
Mr Kilmister said the Thai facility analysed a “range of microbiological and chemical testing for ready-to-eat foods”.
“Approximately 50 per cent of the samples received into the laboratory are for domestic consumption while the balance are products destined for export,” he said.
A second Thai lab was set up by ALS in Rayong with a shopfront opened in Chiang Mai.
In Australia, the National Measurement Institute has the “capability to test for food borne viruses” at its Melbourne lab.
Private labs in Australia are typically used by food and drink companies for both import and export testing.
Source : The Daily Telegraph Geoff Chambers March 10th 2015
