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Chinese-grown Shine Muscat grapes contaminated with dangerous chemicals

12 Sept 12:30 Key points summarised by AI

**Dangerous Chemical Contamination:** Thai-Pan and the Foundation for Consumers announced that Shine Muscat grapes imported from China are heavily laced with dangerous chemicals, including chlorpyrifos, which is banned in Thailand.
**Widespread Contamination:** Laboratory tests on 24 grape samples revealed 23 were excessively contaminated with 14 different chemical residues, many of which are systemic pesticides absorbed into the fruit and difficult to remove by washing.
**Call for Responsibility:** Consumer protection organizations urge importers and traders to take responsibility for consumer safety by conducting random tests, removing harmful grapes, and clearly specifying the origin of the fruit.
**Popularity Despite Risks:** Chinese Shine Muscat grapes are popular in Thailand due to their lower price, despite the significant health risks posed by the detected chemical contamination.

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.