More than 41 tonnes of dodgy beef and organ meat—allegedly soaked in toxic formalin—have been seized from a cold storage warehouse in Pathum Thani, sparking fears over contaminated food in Bangkok’s markets.
Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), in coordination with officials from the Livestock Development Department, raided a sprawling cold storage facility covering two sois in Klong Nueng subdistrict, Pathum Thani.
Authorities discovered 41.771 tonnes of smuggled beef with no legal import documentation, alongside large cold boxes filled with internal organs reeking of formalin, a chemical typically used for embalming corpses. They also found nine barrels of formalin on the premises.
According to investigators, the warehouse had allegedly been supplying this tainted meat to various markets and food vendors across Bangkok and surrounding provinces. Officials said the seized beef and organs were likely stored and preserved in formalin to extend shelf life, posing a serious health risk to consumers.
“This is a major food safety violation,” an official stated. “The use of formalin in food is strictly prohibited due to its toxic effects.”
The warehouse operator has been ordered to present valid import documentation for the confiscated meat within 15 days. If the documents are not provided, the owner could face multiple charges under animal quarantine laws and food safety regulations.
Formalin is known to be a carcinogenic substance, and its use in food products is banned in Thailand. Consuming meat treated with formalin can lead to serious health issues, including respiratory distress, digestive problems, and long-term organ damage.
Police are now tracking the distribution network believed to be linked to the warehouse and will expand inspections to other storage sites suspected of similar violations. Further legal action is expected pending lab results and document verification, reported The Nation.
Health officials have urged consumers to buy meat only from trusted sources and remain alert for unusually preserved meat products.
The CPPD says it will continue to crack down on dangerous food smuggling operations and hold violators accountable to protect public health.
The story Tonnes of toxic beef haul uncovered in Pathum Thani as seen on Thaiger News.
