Prachinburi governor eats fruit to calm radiation fears (Photos)

Prachinburi governor Ronnarong Nakornjinda gives a thumbs-up as he eats a mango at a farm located near a smelting plant where radioactive traces of Cesium-137 were found this week. Photo: Prachinburi Provincial Office

By Coconuts Bangkok

Mar 24, 2023 | 10:47am Bangkok time

To ease fears that Prachinburi has a radioactivity problem, its top official posed for photos eating fruit.

Looking to restore confidence after several tour groups reportedly canceled trips to the province due to concern over the detection of Cesium-137, provincial Gov. Ronnarong Nakornjind and his team went to a fruit farm near to where the radioactive traces were found near a steel smelting plant.

Then they peeled and ate mangos and marian plums among other fruit grown there and posted for photos with a Geiger counter showing radioactivity at acceptably safe levels.

The photos were released by the Prachinburi Provincial Office a week after a radioactive industrial device was reported missing and days after traces of highly dangerous Cesium-137 isotopes were found at the plant.

About 20 hotels and resorts in Prachinburi were said to be affected by cancellations, according to Damri Rattanachinakorn, president of the provincial tourism association.

Ronnarong’s bravado might remind some of a similar 2004 stunt when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra cooked and gave away chicken to reassure the public that it was safe to eat following the bird flu crisis.