Characteristics of Complaints and Violations of Food Laws: A Case Study of Northeastern Region of Thailand
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the characteristics of consumers’ complaints and violations of food laws committed by food business operators in the Northeastern region of Thailand. Method: This study was a retrospective descriptive study. Data were gathered from the reports of complaints or violations in accordance with the Food Act B.E. 2522 at the Health Consumer Protection and Pharmacy Department of 5 Provincial Public Health in the Northeastern region of Thailand from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2021.. Results: During 2019-2021, the total numbers of complaints and violations were 303 and 125 records, respectively. The food products with the greatest number of complaints were drinking water (n=101, 33.33%), beverages (n=58, 19.14%), and dietary supplements (n=36, 11.88%). The most frequently reported complaints were on food labels (n=136, 44.89%), food product itself (n=99, 32.67%) and food production processes and area (n=23, 7.59%). The majority of the Food Act B.E. 2522 violations was non-compliance to labeling requirements under Section 6(10) (n=79, 55.63%), non-compliance to good manufacturing practices under Section 6 (7) (n=30, 21.13%), and production, importation, and sale of substandard foods under Section 25(3) (n=19, 13.38%). Conclusion: Number of complaints and violations in accordance with the Food Act B.E. 2522 tended to increase, but remained in the same legal issues. Relevant regulators should empower food business operators to adhere to the food laws properly, and should strictly enforce the laws against repeated offenders.
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ผลการวิจัยและความคิดเห็นที่ปรากฏในบทความถือเป็นความคิดเห็นและอยู่ในความรับผิดชอบของผู้นิพนธ์ มิใช่ความเห็นหรือความรับผิดชอบของกองบรรณาธิการ หรือคณะเภสัชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ ทั้งนี้ไม่รวมความผิดพลาดอันเกิดจากการพิมพ์ บทความที่ได้รับการเผยแพร่โดยวารสารเภสัชกรรมไทยถือเป็นสิทธิ์ของวารสารฯ
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