The killer bowl of rice
PETALING JAYA - The sacred bowl of rice that used to save lives could
now be harmful – and even deadly. Plastic rice laced with poisonous
resin has reportedly reached the shores of several Asian nations. The
rice is said to stay hard after it has been cooked.
The plastic rice, reportedly made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, with
synthetic resin – moulded into the shape of real rice – is said to have
made its way into countries with large rural populations such as India,
Indonesia and Vietnam.
One latest rumour said that the fake rice had entered Singapore,
although a thorough check revealed this allegation to be at least five
years old.
Health experts and dieticians have warned that consuming such fake
grains could be lethal or seriously damage the digestive system.
News of the fake rice, commonly sold in Chinese markets, especially
in Taiyuan in Shaanxi Province, has been circulating on popular social
media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. But the Malaysian
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has said it has not
received any reports on fake rice.
Its minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob denied receiving such reports, and
assured that consumers would be taught how to identify fake grains.
Complaints of fake goods fall under the purview of the Domestic
Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.
“However, we will assist the ministry regarding the technical side of
identifying rice.“For example, we can give consumers pointers on how to
differentiate between fake and real rice,” he said. Malaysian Domestic
Trade Minister Hasan Malek added the news on fake rice, which has gone
viral on the Internet, might be true or false, but the ministry would
not take such things lightly.“I, too, have heard about the news. The
news can be true or false; we don’t know about it. We also don’t know if
the fake rice has landed in the country but we cannot take such things
lightly.
“We will carry out investigations nationwide,” Datuk Seri Hasan said.
Hasan added that the investigating team would focus on small sundry
shops to check whether they were selling the fake rice, especially in
the outskirts and rural areas.
“We will conduct our investigations, but at the same time I would
like to plead with consumers to come forward and report to the ministry
if they come across such rice. “All reports made will be treated
confidentially,” he said, adding that the ministry would take action
against errant traders.
Sources from the rice industry said such rice would not be sold
openly at supermarkets and hypermarkets. “If there is existence of this
rice in Malaysia, it would most likely be sold in small shops,” one
source said.He also noted that it would be hard for wholesalers to bring
in the plastic rice following strict regulations at the country’s entry
points.
“However, there are possibilities that the plastic rice can be
smuggled in through the border states,” he said. Smugglers can use
various methods to bring in the product as they know it would be hard to
detect if the plastic rice was to be mixed with normal rice, he said.
When contacted, National Heart Institute (IJN) chief dietitian Mary
Easaw-John said: “Some substances, such as plastic resin, are not meant
to be edible and in the long run will have negative implications on the
digestive system.”
Food adulteration is a serious problem. About 300,000 people fell
sick and at least six infants died in 2008 when Chinese milk and infant
formula was found to be adulterated with melamine. Later that year,
melamine was also discovered in Chinese eggs.
(The Star/Asia News Network)
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