No Evidence Of Plastic Rice In The World

Just some few years ago there was chaos in Nigeria about the influx of plastic rice. This was caused by the increase in the price of foreign imported rice. It was rumoured that some importers went for rice sold by China to Nigeria made from plastic. To add more fuel to the blazing furnace, series of videos of rice on fire or clumping together or even bouncing off the wall filled the internet.

Plastic rice

If you recall, the government was forced into action. They tested several batches of imported rice. At a time, they thought they had found some plastic rice only for them to recall the claim. It was later found out that the suspected plastic rice was genuine. It was contaminated with microorganisms.

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Until this date, Nigeria health authority has not yet confirmed any bag of plastic rice in the country. A look into the saga in other countries showed similar results. There have been rumours of plastic rice but it has never been confirmed by health authorities. It turned out to be a rumour. But what is this all about?

Plastic Rice

Plastic rice, according to the rumours, is a type of rice made entirely from plastic into the shape of a grain of rice with some characteristics of plastic. These include flammability. It is believed that this rice is cheaper to produce hence the reason the manufacturer goes for it against the natural rice.

Origin Of Plastic Rice

Well, the origin of this rumour may sound funny if we consider who Afrucans especially Nigerians were blaming for it. It originated from China. Yes, the republic of China. It was rumoured that a brand of rice would mix plastic rice to trick consumers. However, a fact check revealed that the rice was not made of plastic. The said rice was edible but was branded as premium rice when it was not. The premium rice has some flavour which the fake rice does not have.

Video Evidence

You think you have seen video evidence of plastic rice, think again. Let us start with the bouncing rice. Rice contains starch. Parboiling rice leads to release of starch in to the water. Applying force to a handful of rice will give them enough strength to come together to form a lump. The lump will bounce off the wall if well shaped and dry with the starch allowing it to stretch when it hits the wall.

'But some videos show rice burning' you may ask. The first question you need to ask yourself is do you know these people. They could be doing it to catch fun in the public. Adding oil or some fuel to the pot is enough to set up a flame. And the flame will heat up the rice which will make it release starch and start behaving like plastic. Burning rice in a pot use in frying oil can cause this reaction knowingly or unknowingly.

Let Use Logic

Looking at the plastic market (buckets, plates, spoons), it will be very expensive to produce a grain of plastic or even mix it with rice. It will be more economical to get farmland and employ people to farm on it. And it is more logical to spend time, money, energy and resources in a cheap, legal business than an expensive illegal business. So, think about it.

Artificial Rice

But we actually have artificial rice in the world. However, this rice does not have the characteristics of the plastic rice we talked about. This rice is made from broken rice with the addition of other cereals. To make them nutritious, other micronutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin A and B are added.

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They use rice making machines in converting broken rice into rice shaped pellets. They use a hot extrusion process to add the micronutrients so that they are not lost during rinsing or cooking.

The rice was originally used to feed starving children in brazil, Colombia and India with an increase in nutrition value in the children. Plans are underway to introduce it to other developing countries. This was the desire of the founder and his wife, Dr. James P. Cox and Joenne from Canada which took them 20 years to achieve beginning in 1960.

As of today, there is no evidence that rice made from plastic exists. It is only in the imagination of some people. It does not sound logical not in this present technology. Maybe it is a future thing.

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