Nationwide inspections ordered after tilapia found in mackerel cans

FDA finds poor manufacturing practices at Samut Sakhon plant

PUBLISHED : 5 May 2026 at 14:15

WRITER: Mongkol Bangprapa and Apinya Wipatayotin

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Prime Minister’s Office Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi has ordered consumer protection officials nationwide to stop producers using tilapia in canned-fish products after packs sold as mackerel were found to contain tilapia.

Speaking at Government House on Tuesday, Ms Supamas said incident on May 1 has attracted considerable attention. Although the producer reached a settlement with affected consumers, she warned the problem could recur and instructed officials to inspect local factories and review complaints.

“Consumer protection officials in all provinces will check local factories to find out the raw material and they will also review relevant complaints from people,” the minister said.

The affected consumer told Thai PBS the producer apologised and offered compensation in exchange for the removal of his video about the adulteration, reportedly citing a shortage of mackerel.

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it would inspect the seafood factory in Samut Sakhon province, Thai PBS reported.

FDA secretary-general Supattra Boonserm said health officials visited the Sri Rungngam Food Co plant in tambon Kalong in Samut Sakhon's Muang district and found lapses in good manufacturing practices and the use of other fish in its canned products.

Officials ordered the company to recall all its products and seized 12,760 cans at the plant and a further 250 cans at local markets, Ms Supattra said.

Using fish other than the mackerel licensed to the producer and misleading labels constitute consumer deception, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 baht for breaching food and labelling laws, Ms Supattra added. She has asked the Department of Fisheries to identify the species used.

The move comes amid a growing global and domestic mackerel shortage. Overfishing and a lack of international quota agreements have hit North-East Atlantic stocks, and Thailand’s pla tu (short-bodied mackerel) supply is also under strain.

Last month, major UK retailer Waitrose suspended sales of fresh, frozen and tinned mackerel, and other retailers have warned the species is at risk of collapse.

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- KEYWORDS

- Canned mackerel

- Tilapia adulteration

- Food safety thailand

- Consumer protection board

- Supamas isarabhakdi

- Food and drug administration

- Samut sakhon factory