National
25 May 2026 4:25 AM• 1 day ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Buffalo Deaths Expose Thailand's Food Safety Crisis as Fruit Exports Face Decline?
Buffalo Deaths Expose Thailand's Food Safety Crisis as Fruit Exports Face Decline?
BANGKOK – May 25, 2026 – Eight buffaloes and three ostriches died after eating chemically contaminated cabbages in Thailand. Now, the country is asking itself a painful question: if the vegetables aren't safe for animals, are they safe for humans?
According to reports circulating, 'Ta Thony,' a Facebook celebrity, fed his buffaloes and ostriches with leftover vegetables from Thai farmers. Shortly after consuming the cabbage, all eight buffaloes and three ostriches died.
He was extremely angry and expressed deep worry about chemical residues in locally grown produce. The incident has sparked widespread public debate — not just about cabbage, but about the safety of Thailand's entire agricultural system. Some consumers now openly question whether Thai fruits and vegetables are safe to eat, leading to slow sales and growing difficulties in marketing domestic agricultural products.
The timing could not be worse. Thailand's agricultural export sector is already under intense pressure, particularly for durian — the country's most valuable fruit export. The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has warned Thai durian exporters to improve product quality to meet China's strict safety rules and intensifying competition from regional rivals.
OAE secretary-general Piraphan Khorthong said Thai exporters face stronger competition from durian producers in Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia, alongside tighter Chinese screening requirements. China will rigorously test durians for prohibited substances and contamination, including Basic Yellow 2 dye and cadmium. Exporters must source durians only from orchards that meet Good Agricultural Practice standards, while the cleaning and packing process must comply with Good Manufacturing Practice. Both durian orchards and export packing houses must be registered with the Department of Agriculture to obtain certification for exports to China.
The OAE has also advised exporters to consider using the Laos-China high-speed rail link instead of road transport, as rail shipments can deliver durians to Kunming in just two days. However, rail transport costs are about 10 to 15 per cent higher than road haulage, though it allows better temperature control to maintain fruit quality.
Despite stronger competition, durian production in 2026 is expected to rise by 15.71 per cent from 2025, with the OAE estimating output at 1.781 million tonnes. In 2024, Thailand exported 859,157 tonnes of durian worth 134.85 billion baht (S$5.52 billion). Exports rose to 982,016 tonnes in 2025, but the value fell to 125.868 billion baht.
Thai food exports overall fell by 10.5% in the first two months of 2026, driven by weak global demand, US tariff uncertainty, a stronger baht, and stricter regulations from China — Thailand's largest market, which receives over 480millionoftropicalfruitexports.ThewarintheMiddleEasthasmademattersworse,withThaifoodexportstotheregionexpectedtocontractbyasmuchas50.76,000-8,000 per container.
Beyond trade numbers and chemical residues, one question lingers: if Thailand cannot guarantee the safety of its own domestic vegetables — even for animals — how can it convince the world that its exports are safe? Thai authorities have not yet issued an official response regarding the deaths of Ta Thony's animals. But the silence, for many, speaks volumes.
Sources:
The Strait Times (January 6, 2026) – Thai durian exporters warned to improve quality amid China's strict safety rules
Nation Thailand (March 30, 2026) – Middle East war hits Thai food exports in first two months of 2026
Nation Thailand (February 25, 2026) – Thai rice exports drop 17.5% in Jan 2026 as strong baht impacts market
Nation Thailand (May 17, 2026) – Thailand tightens durian standards in THB150bn export push
Nation Thailand (April 6, 2026) – Middle East war hits Thai food exports, with market at risk of 50% slump
Reported by The Khmer Daily Desks
According to reports circulating, 'Ta Thony,' a Facebook celebrity, fed his buffaloes and ostriches with leftover vegetables from Thai farmers. Shortly after consuming the cabbage, all eight buffaloes and three ostriches died.
He was extremely angry and expressed deep worry about chemical residues in locally grown produce. The incident has sparked widespread public debate — not just about cabbage, but about the safety of Thailand's entire agricultural system. Some consumers now openly question whether Thai fruits and vegetables are safe to eat, leading to slow sales and growing difficulties in marketing domestic agricultural products.
The timing could not be worse. Thailand's agricultural export sector is already under intense pressure, particularly for durian — the country's most valuable fruit export. The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) has warned Thai durian exporters to improve product quality to meet China's strict safety rules and intensifying competition from regional rivals.
OAE secretary-general Piraphan Khorthong said Thai exporters face stronger competition from durian producers in Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia, alongside tighter Chinese screening requirements. China will rigorously test durians for prohibited substances and contamination, including Basic Yellow 2 dye and cadmium. Exporters must source durians only from orchards that meet Good Agricultural Practice standards, while the cleaning and packing process must comply with Good Manufacturing Practice. Both durian orchards and export packing houses must be registered with the Department of Agriculture to obtain certification for exports to China.
The OAE has also advised exporters to consider using the Laos-China high-speed rail link instead of road transport, as rail shipments can deliver durians to Kunming in just two days. However, rail transport costs are about 10 to 15 per cent higher than road haulage, though it allows better temperature control to maintain fruit quality.
Despite stronger competition, durian production in 2026 is expected to rise by 15.71 per cent from 2025, with the OAE estimating output at 1.781 million tonnes. In 2024, Thailand exported 859,157 tonnes of durian worth 134.85 billion baht (S$5.52 billion). Exports rose to 982,016 tonnes in 2025, but the value fell to 125.868 billion baht.
Thai food exports overall fell by 10.5% in the first two months of 2026, driven by weak global demand, US tariff uncertainty, a stronger baht, and stricter regulations from China — Thailand's largest market, which receives over 480millionoftropicalfruitexports.ThewarintheMiddleEasthasmademattersworse,withThaifoodexportstotheregionexpectedtocontractbyasmuchas50.76,000-8,000 per container.
Beyond trade numbers and chemical residues, one question lingers: if Thailand cannot guarantee the safety of its own domestic vegetables — even for animals — how can it convince the world that its exports are safe? Thai authorities have not yet issued an official response regarding the deaths of Ta Thony's animals. But the silence, for many, speaks volumes.
Sources:
The Strait Times (January 6, 2026) – Thai durian exporters warned to improve quality amid China's strict safety rules
Nation Thailand (March 30, 2026) – Middle East war hits Thai food exports in first two months of 2026
Nation Thailand (February 25, 2026) – Thai rice exports drop 17.5% in Jan 2026 as strong baht impacts market
Nation Thailand (May 17, 2026) – Thailand tightens durian standards in THB150bn export push
Nation Thailand (April 6, 2026) – Middle East war hits Thai food exports, with market at risk of 50% slump
Reported by The Khmer Daily Desks
Thai Man, Ta Thony, smahing Cabbage that has been fed to his buffalo
Basic Yellow 2, a substance classified by the WHO as a Group 2B carcinogen, is believed to be used to enhance the yellow color of durian fruit. CC From Khaosod English
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