China, a nation famous for
having it all and making all, both fake and original, has now taken a step
further with mass production and distribution of plastic rice. The fake rice
phenomenon which is also known as plastic rice has been there since 2011,
social media rumours have asserted plastic rice was being manufactured in
China, exported and consumed by people in other countries unaware that the rice
they were eating was in fact not food at all but plastic. Plastic rice is made
by mixing sweet potatoes and plastics into regular rice grains shape, then
adding industrial synthetic resins. These fake rice grains look exactly like
rice but remain hard after cooking.
In each bag of rice, a
small amount of real rice is mixed with the plastic rice and sprayed with a
fragrance to make it smell the same as normal rice. Eating three bowls of this
rice was found to be equal to consuming an entire plastic bag which is very
dangerous for human health and terrible for the digestive system.
As we all know, Christmas
and New Year is a season in which rice consumption is considered to be at its
peak and children cry for a plate of rice. With the Nigerian economic
recession, some parents may find it difficult to purchase rice for their
children to consume for Christmas celebration, and so may depend on the
cheapest rice in the market and may also depend on getting bags or measures of
rice from their employers, friends and well wishes.
Whether you purchased your
rice from the market yourself or it was given to you by your employers, friends
or well wishes, here are six easy steps to determine if your rice is fake or
original; these tests are very simple and do not require you to spend any money.
The materials you need to carry out this test are right in your kitchen. So,
from today henceforth, never eat rice without carrying out the following test;
The mortar and Pestles Test: Pour a few grains of rice into a
mortar, pound it with a pestle, if the powder gives a white colour, you are
good to go, but if it has a yellow discolouration, your rice is fake.
The Fire Test: I guess you know how plastic smells when it gets in
contact with fire. So, get a lighter or a stick of matches, burn a handful of
rice. If it catches fire and smells like burnt plastic, you have fake rice.
The Water Test: Normal rice, as we all know, is supposed to sink when
poured in a pot or bowl. To test the originality of your rice, get a bowl or
glass of cold water. Pour a tablespoon of raw rice in the glass and stir. If
the rice goes to the bottom, it is all good. If it floats at the top, be
careful because it means it contains plastic rice. Do not eat.
The Fungus Test: Pour a Handful of rice in a warm place and leave it
for like two to three days. If mold or fungus does not appear for like two to
three days, your rice is fake and should not be consumed. It will not get mold
because plastic is not affected by weather or temperature.
The Boiling Test:
Anytime you boil your rice, observe the rice while it is boiling. If it
starts forming a thick layer at the top of the pot, it is plastic rice.
The Hot Oil Test: Take some of the rice and drop into
a very hot oil. If it is plastic, it will melt or stick together or stick to
the bottom of the pan or pot. If any of these occur then your rice is fake and
should not be consumed.
Make sure you test your
rice before consuming them.
BY: Mercy Kukah
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