No report of fake rice in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The National Food Authority (NFA) here, this morning, conducted inspections in rice retail outlets in Balanga City Greater Public Market and Dinalupihan town public market to monitor the presence of any synthetic rice in some 100 accredited retailers.

Mrs. Adelaida Nuestro, provincial manager of NFA, said Renan Dalisay, NFA administrator has instructed all provincial offices to undertake exhaustive probe of the alleged infiltration of fake rice coming from the country’s backdoor.

Nuestro explained that the inspection team is formed to allay fear from the public about the threat to health of fake rice which may be unscrupulously mixed with regular grains in some outlets in the province. She appealed to residents to immediately report to NFA any doubtful variety of rice cereals being sold in the markets.

Reports said fake rice has almost the same color and texture as the genuine rice which is very hard to detect, however, the NFA has a Food Development Center in Taguig City which is equipped with latest laboratory testing equipment to determine the rice quality.

According to NFA, the fake rice, a concoction of potato, sweet potato and highly poisonous synthetic resin is reportedly being manufactured in China and exported to Asian countries.

Engr. Edgardo Maliksi, president of Balanga City market grains retailers association, informed the NFA officials that the group so far has not received any report/complaint from buyers and distributors regarding fake rice. He stressed that to date, there is no indication that fake rice has reached the province.