Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to imported Shine Muscat grapes, deeming them safe for public consumption after thorough chemical residue tests.

The FDA's food and drug inspection division seized 6.93 tonnes of the grapes on November 5 to run chemical residue tests under its Hold Test Release protocol. The fruit met all regulatory standards, so the FDA approved them for import and domestic sale, according to its deputy director-general Lertchai Lertvut.

Public concern arose last month when the Thailand Consumers' Council reported that 23 out of 24 Shine Muscat grape samples it tested were found to contain hazardous chemical residues beyond the acceptable legal limit. Some were contaminated with chlorpyrifos and endrin aldehyde, which are banned under Thai food safety laws.

Shine Muscat grapes are a variety originating from Japan that features a yellow-green hue, crisp flesh, no seeds, and delightful sweetness.