Man Buys Trays Of Eggs On Discount, Finds Out They Were Fake

Fake products in Thailand

Images adapted from: Prasit Tangprasert

It might sound a bit sad, but people can unintentionally buy fake items from markets across the world. However, the thought of buying ‘fake food’ back home by ourselves sounds unreal.

This rare case has really happened. One man in Thailand discovered he was scammed into buying trays of fake eggs when he was trying to make Khai Jiew (Thai-style omelette).

Found out scam when making Khai Jiew for his kids

Image credit: Prasit Tangprasert

On 29th May 2020, the Bangkok Post reported a story of Sombat Thunsungnoen, a man in Sung Noen district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, who was scammed into buying fake eggs.

Mr Sombat talked to local news reporters and shared that he had bought trays of what he thought were chicken eggs on a discount from a mobile grocery store back home. The price of the eggs from the six-wheel truck was much cheaper than ones from other stores, so he bought three cartons at only ฿60 with 30 eggs in each tray.

Image credit: Prasit Tangprasert

This sounds like a crazy deal, as a tray of eggs this size would normally be around ฿85-100. Amid the financial crisis due to COVID-19, he felt lucky with the purchase.

But things didn’t go as well as he thought it would be. Mr Somsak realised in no time that he had bought fake eggs back home when he was trying to make Khai Jiew.

Fake eggs (left) and real eggs (right)
Image credit: Prasit Tangprasert

The eggshells have a rougher surface than normal chicken eggs and had some dark red dots on it. When cracked, the whites did not have any odour and were a powdery gel instead.

Khai Jiew from real eggs is the left one with the utensils
Image credit: Prasit Tangprasert

Mr Somsak mentioned that he had given an example of the fake eggs to the district public health office to examine.

As this fake-egg problem doesn’t sound new in the neighbourhood, he also said to Bangkok Post that “It’s [the problem] now rampant in Sung Noen district. Don’t let rogues inflict more harm on people at a time of economic hardship.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic when people are faced with hardships as it is, we hope the related agencies in Sung Noen district could help eliminate the problem so that the locals won’t get scammed ever again.

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