Plastic rice: 5 tests to identify genuine grain at home
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 18
With rumours about rice being adulterated by using plastic grains widespread, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the state yesterday released a list of five tests that people can conduct at home to differentiate between real and plastic rice.
“We are carrying out an awareness campaign because there is apprehension that artificial rice is being sold. There are five simple tests by which people can find out whether there is any artificial element in the rice they got from the market. If they find something wrong, they can inform us and we will take necessary action,” says Amneet P Kumar, FDA Commissioner.
She, however, termed the reports of plastic rice circulating on social media as mere rumours, and assured that there was no need to worry.
Narender Ahooja, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA, says when rice is tested for quality, it is subjected to physical analysis like foreign matter, broken grain, damage and discolour etc. However, plastic rice is a kind of adulteration not heard of hitherto. Therefore, no specific test methods are evolved.
He says if plastic rice contains superficial layer of plastic coating, it cannot react with reagents which are generally used in double-stain method or de-husk test method. As per the general appearance, paddy rice can be easily identifiable by the presence of loose bran and the rice will absorb water.
Ahooja says five tests which could easily differentiate between raw rice and plastic rice are–water test, boiling test, hot oil test, fire test and fungus test. All these tests can be easily performed at home.
Spot the difference
- Put a tablespoonful of rice in a glass of water. While real rice will sink, plastic grains will float
- If on boiling, there is a thick layer at the top of the pot, it is plastic rice
- When put in very hot oil, plastic rice will melt, stick together or at the bottom
- Plastic rice will catch fire when exposed to flames
* If boiled rice is left in a bottle for three days, fungus will grow in case the grains are genuine. There will be no such growth if rice is fake
