Fake Rice: How Widespread is the Problem?

[rootone]

Fake plastic rice seized in Nigeria amid rocketing food prices
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-seized-in-nigeria-amid-rocketing-food-prices

 

[Evo]

Good grief. What next?

 

[jtbell]

At least that stuff doesn't spoil.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

There is a video circulating of a "cook" making this rice from plastic bags in some back alley.

 

[Evo]

OMG! Is there no shame? I'm speechless.

 

[Vanadium 50]

China takes a very dim view of this sort of thing. It cuts into their exports. They will find the perpetrators (or at least people they will claim are the perpetrators) and if the past is any indication, shoot them and bill their families for the bullet.

 

[StatGuy2000]

China takes a very dim view of this sort of thing. It cuts into their exports. They will find the perpetrators (or at least people they will claim are the perpetrators) and if the past is any indication, shoot them and bill their families for the bullet.

My understanding is that China is not a major exporter of rice around the world. That honour goes to India, followed by Thailand, the US, and Pakistan.

http://www.worldstopexports.com/rice-exports-country/

At any rate, this is not the first time that fake or suspect exports of food products from China has been reported. Consider the following, regarding protein adulteration in pet foods as well as other foods, dating as far back as 2007:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_adulteration_in_China

If you read the Wikipedia article (as well as the associated sources), there is at least the indication that leading Chinese officials have been involved in approving unsafe foods after taking bribes. One such individual, Zheng Xiaoyu, had been convicted in a Chinese court back in 2007, but given the opaque nature of the courts, who knows if there may be more such cases. And it may well be the case that this latest case may also involve corruption that reaches the highest levels of the Chinese government (since many of the companies involved in exports are state-owned enterprises).

 

[blue_leaf77]

This post has lowered my appetite.

 

[256bits]

Astonishing!
Just empty calories.
No vitamin and mineral fortification.

 

[Evo]

Astonishing!
Just empty calories.
No vitamin and mineral fortification.

Is there a poisoning risk like melamine?

 

[256bits]

How much of the scandal is really this
http://www.snopes.com/info/glossary.asp
ie urban legend, ostension, myth, and just repeating the same story over and over and over without checking sources.

http://www.snopes.com/plastic-rice-from-china/

 

[Evo]

How much of the scandal is really this
http://www.snopes.com/info/glossary.asp
ie urban legend, ostension, myth, and just repeating the same story over and over and over without checking sources.

http://www.snopes.com/plastic-rice-from-china/

The video is about rice made in Vietnam.

 

[256bits]

Is there a poisoning risk like melamine?

I was trying some humour for Plastic pellets shaped like rice -

But the other fake rice from potatoes and resin binder. The resin binder would or could hurt your system.
Would be kind of hard and chewy though I would think.

Melamine bad, as one cannot notice its presence, if not listed on ingredients.

Fake rice - why would anyone eat a second bowl of rice, especially if they know their rice, but then who does.

As an aside, a while back there was a study or investigation here in Canada, don't know if it was nation wide or city specific.
Restaurants were selling low quality fish as the top notch quality and charging patrons for it.
Thing is, the chefs were duped into buying what they thought was quality fish, from the vendor, ( editorial - who might have been duped himself and all the way down the line ).
If I can find the story...

 

[Logical Dog]

No, its fake!

 

[SW VandeCarr]

Rice is such a mainstay of the diet of so many asians, I find it difficult to believe many could be fooled, especially if it's plastic.

 

[Evo]

Rice is such a mainstay of the diet of so many asians, I find it difficult to believe many could be fooled, especially if it's plastic.

Supposedly it was being sold in Nigeria. Don't know if it would be mixed with other ingredients so that it would be hidden. I guess if you are starving, you don't pay much attention.

 

[256bits]

Supposedly it was being sold in Nigeria. Don't know if it would be mixed with other ingredients so that it would be hidden. I guess if you are starving, you don't pay much attention.

Rice is such a mainstay of the diet of so many asians, I find it difficult to believe many could be fooled, especially if it's plastic.

That is what I was getting at with the fish and restaurant little story.
The supply chain becomes contaminated with an adulterated product.
Once found out, all of it has to be checked, and if of poorer quality, disposed of in some fashion.

In the meantime, the unsuspecting, have conducted transactions built on honesty. It would be difficult to determine at times who in particular is not living up to expectations through the supply chain all the way from producer to user.

would the end user complain if every kernel was crap = yes.
if 1 kernel out of 10 = most likely
One out of 100, or a thousand = maybe.

In the meantime, eating the adullterated food can have health problems for you and your family a few years down the road, something surely not asked for. and definitely something one cannot call a victimless crime, is it.

 

[StatGuy2000]

How much of the scandal is really this
http://www.snopes.com/info/glossary.asp
ie urban legend, ostension, myth, and just repeating the same story over and over and over without checking sources.

http://www.snopes.com/plastic-rice-from-china/

Because the Guardian is generally recognized as a legitimate news source with a reputation of excellent journalism, I had not thought to question the legitimacy of the news source. But perhaps it may indeed be possible (as suggested in the Snopes article above) that the rice grains may have been contaminated, tainted by chemicals or otherwise counterfeit, but may not actually be made of plastic.

 

[256bits]

Because the Guardian is generally recognized as a legitimate news source with a reputation of excellent journalism, I had not thought to question the legitimacy of the news source. But perhaps it may indeed be possible (as suggested in the Snopes article above) that the rice grains may have been contaminated, tainted by chemicals or otherwise counterfeit, but may not actually be made of plastic.

My question would be how pervasive.
I am not really questioning the validity, but the amount of traffic of story repetition.

As for validity, if these guys ( the video of plastic refuse processing ) are ABSOLUTELY into recycling, re-use, and cleaning up the environment, which would be admirable, the question that comes to my mind is: ( Just on the verge of PF violation but I hope it is taken as editorial comment that investigative reporters should pursue )
"Explain the plastic pellets shape and size so similar to rice kernels?"
And
"Why is that allowed? "

I gave you a LIKE, for your previous comments.