The Department of Public Health inspected a “pla ra,” or pickled fish store, in a local market in Kampangpetch after a woman found pieces of a snake in her jar of delicious fermented goodness.
The local health officials, together with the police, brought their team to the pla ra stall yesterday after the local woman, Kamgong Tonsinon, filed a complaint about her shocking discovery last week.
Pla ra is a Thai seasoning made of fermented fish and rice bran. While many Thais, especially Isaan locals, love putting pla ra in their som tam others can’t stand its distinctive smell.
Nipath Boonkong, the stall’s owner, said that he bought the pickled fish from a factory in Sukhothai province and that he had no clue why there was a dead cobra in the jar.
The story ended with Boongong getting a THB480 refund and health officials asking Nipath to request that the factory be more careful with their pla ra production.
It still tastes good with som tam? No?
