Running from rivals

Re: “Facts on Thai pigs”, (PostBag, Sept 21).

I have been reading about the alleged trichinosis in US pigs. I see this as an excuse to have American pork banned from sale in Thailand while the same “outbreak” is 10 times worse here. The same goes for the disappearance of US turkeys from the shelves here for the past three years. We are left with the Thai “road runner” version of turkey.

It is apparent that the Thai government wants only Thai products sold here and doesn’t want to hurt the feelings of Thai farmers who can only offer an inferior product.

How many people with diabetes or high blood pressure regularly eat Thai jasmine rice? Have their doctors ever told them that jasmine rice has been proven to raise blood sugar? Have their doctors ever told them that basmati rice has also been proven to lower blood sugar?

Could it be because Thai rice farmers will protest to the government — or already have? Could it be that the Thai government would rather pay and complain about high medical costs related to high blood sugar rather than tell people to eat healthy food?

Let’s face it, foreign competition is not wanted here and the government readily caves in to support lack of competition.

Even decent Italian or French bread has disappeared off the shelves and has been replaced by heavy, doughy logs of something that stores try to pass off as French or Italian.

Consumers want choices — good choices — and not the choice of “do I buy this because there is nothing else to choose from?”.

DISGRUNTLED CONSUMER