Green Market Grease Inspection

At this past Saturday's Green Market, P Tip got out her new Grease Inspection Kit and ran through the market, gathering used cooking oil from all the farmer-vendors. We collected 14 samples (from about 65 vendors total) and tested them all for carcinogens that are dangerous to consumers' health. A simple injection of a few chemicals showed us with a pink color scale if the grease was dangerous. Often, food vendors in Thailand will re-use cooking oil to save money without realizing the potential health consequences for consumers. When cooking oil is re-heated to cooking temperature, free radicals are released. Also important, the flavors of the food being fried or stir-fried is reduced or altered. And no one wants unhappy eaters...

With the exception of 1 sample, our vendors passed the inspection with flying colors (see the pink bottles above). Each bottle is marked with the vendors name, and if two samples were taken from them, what was fried with the oil (usually fish or doughnut-like treats). We proved that our vendors weren't re-using their used cooking oil. In fact, it is collected and sent to our farmers' groups to make biodiesel!!!

The sample that failed was used for frying fish - most likely the oil had been used for too long without the vendor realizing it (see the brown bottle below). After the tests, P Tip met with the vendor to go over the test results and clear up any misunderstandings.


By testing a good portion of our vendors' fry grease and displaying the results in front of consumers at the Green Market, SFS hopes to maintain and build people's trust. P Tip will be out again this coming Saturday to test another group of our vendors and we hope more consumers will be interested in the information we will provide them. When a consumer decides to come to the Green Market, they know that they will be purchasing safe, organic foods. And this is something to feel good about, both for consumers and farmers.