‘NO FOREIGN ELEMENT IN RICE’
Ministry still awaits test results from other samples
THE Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry (MOA) has confirmed that no foreign element has been found in a local rice brand which was said to be made of plastic.
The Chemistry Department tested a sample taken from the brand’s factory in Alor Star.
MOA had also sent rice samples of the same brand, taken from various locations including factories in Perak and Pahang, and supermarkets in Selangor, to the Chemistry Department and was awaiting results.
MOA’s Rice Control directorgeneral Shamsuddin Ismail said these tests were being made following a police report on plastic rice found in Kulai, Johor, on June 6. Analysis result from the Chemistry Department showed that this, too, contained no plastic element.
“The public is advised not to easily believe allegations going around in social media about plastic rice.
“Those with information can contact the Rice Control office in their respective states to allow investigations to be carried out, and to avoid confusion among consumers in the country,” Shamsuddin said in a statement yesterday.
Last week, rumours of plastic rice from the brand in question went viral on social media, with many angry consumers calling on the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to take action.
It all started when a video of a factory producing transparent plastic granules which looked like rice was posted in social media.
Many Netizens even posted videos of their own plastic rice “tests” by compacting cooked rice into balls and throwing them against a surface.
It was said that if the balls bounced back, they were made of plastic. This was rubbished by many other Netizens who said that any substance, when compacted, would bounce back.