Food safety officials check for ‘plastic rice

Coimbatore: Food safety department has taken 19 samples of rice over the past two days to check for the presence of "plastic rice", besides issuing a public advisory on how to detect the same.

The move comes after photos and messages about the prevalence of "plastic rice" have gone viral on WhatsApp.

The food safety department has inspected around 200 shops across the district since Friday, taking samples of rice sold loose and also in packets and sacks. "We have not so far found any dangerous adulterant. The only non-rice particle found was stones, which is common," said the district food safety officer, Dr Vijay.

The official said they have checked for the presence of plastic, synthetic and semi-synthetic adulterants.

The food safety department has, however, issued an advisory to help people identify and the presence of plastic in rice. The officials have also released two helpline numbers, 0422220922/9444042322, to report the presence of "plastic rice" to them.

"If the rice floats on the surface when put in water, it can be plastic. And if boiled rice does not develop fungus even after three-four days, it means it could be plastic or other synthetic material," said the advisory.