Ethan Clarke
Rumours of 'plastic rice' being sold in Africa and other parts of the world have been circulating since 2010, with videos on social media showing people bouncing rice balls and claiming that their rice wouldn't cook normally. While there is little evidence to support these claims, some companies have been found to produce a rice substitute made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, and synthetic resin, which is then passed off as premium rice for greater profit. This substitute rice is extremely harmful to health, and consuming it is equivalent to ingesting a plastic bag. This has led to concerns about the potential presence of microplastics in rice, with studies showing that people consume 3 to 4 mg of plastic for every 100 g of rice. However, washing rice can reduce plastic contamination by 20 to 40%. While the existence of plastic rice remains a myth for now, it has fuelled discussions about food fraud and the potential health risks associated with consuming adulterated or contaminated rice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic rice is real | No |
| Plastic rice is manufactured and added to real rice | No |
| Plastic rice is cheaper than real rice | No |
| Plastic rice floats in water | Yes |
| Plastic rice gives off a plastic smell when heated | Yes |
| Plastic rice melts when heated | Yes |
| Plastic rice does not expand and cook properly | Yes |
| Plastic rice is harmful to health | Yes |
| Plastic rice is a widespread problem | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in Africa | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in India | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in China | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in North America | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in Europe | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in South America | No |
| Plastic rice is sold in Oceania | No |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic rice is a myth
The plastic rice rumour first surfaced in China in 2010 and spread to Africa in 2016. In December 2016, the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 2.5 tons of rice that was suspected to be plastic. However, the country's health minister later backtracked, stating that there was no evidence to support these claims. The rice was found to contain high levels of bacteria, but this is not unusual for real rice.
While there have been instances of fake rice scandals in China, these did not involve food made entirely of plastic. Some companies were producing a rice substitute made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, and synthetic resin, which was then passed off as premium "Wuchang" grains. This rice substitute is not the same as the plastic rice described in the rumours and is made from edible ingredients.
It is important to note that artificial rice does exist, but it is not the same as the plastic rice described in the rumours. Artificial rice is a grain product made to resemble rice, often fortified with micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. However, this artificial rice is not made of plastic and is safe for consumption.
To identify if your rice is plastic, you can perform a few simple tests. Real rice will sink in water, while plastic rice will float. You can also heat the rice and check for a plastic smell. Additionally, if you boil or microwave rice and notice a thin layer of plastic, it is likely plastic rice. However, it is important to note that these tests may not be completely accurate, and the best way to determine the presence of plastic is through scientific laboratory testing.
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Videos of plastic rice are fake
Since 2010, rumours of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice to trick consumers have been circulating on social media. These rumours were initially prompted by ""fake rice" scandals, although they did not involve food made entirely out of plastic. The rumours were fuelled by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls and people making rice balls out of cooked rice and dropping them on a surface to make them bounce.
However, these videos are fake and do not depict plastic rice. While the rice in the videos does bounce, this is not because it is made of plastic. According to Alexander Waugh, director of the Rice Association, rice, when prepared in a certain way, can bounce due to its natural characteristics of carbohydrates and proteins. Waugh suggests that the videos may be authentic but not because the grains are plastic.
In addition, food safety agencies have found no evidence to support the claims of plastic rice. The cost of producing plastic rice would also be more expensive than real rice, making it unlikely that companies would engage in such practices. Furthermore, plastic rice would not expand and cook properly, so it would be easily identifiable.
In 2024, a video montage purported to show how factories in India make artificial rice out of recycled plastic. However, this video was also misleading. While the factories were recycling plastic, it was being used to make plastic pellets for other plastic products, not food. Other clips in the montage showed the manufacturing process for "artificial rice," a vitamin-fortified food made with ingredients like corn, wheat, and even broken rice, not plastic.
While there may be some truth to the existence of artificial rice or rice substitutes, the claims of plastic rice being sold to consumers are unsupported by evidence. The viral videos depicting bouncing rice balls and factory production are fake and do not provide accurate representations of plastic rice.
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Plastic rice is more expensive than real rice
There have been numerous reports and rumours of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice supplies to trick consumers. However, there is little evidence to support these claims. Food fraud expert Elliott and Alexander Waugh, director of the Rice Association, agree that plastic rice is more expensive than real rice, making it economically unviable.
The plastic rice rumour originated in China in 2010 and spread to Africa in 2016. Viral videos of bouncing rice balls and fake news reports fuelled the rumour, causing widespread panic. In response, food safety agencies and governments in affected countries conducted investigations and released statements debunking the claims.
In Nigeria, for example, customs authorities initially confiscated 2.5 tonnes of suspected plastic rice in 2016, but the country's health minister later clarified that there was no evidence of plastic rice. Similarly, the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority invited consumers and traders to submit suspected plastic rice samples and concluded that no plastic rice was being sold on the Ghanaian market.
The rumours were prompted by "fake rice" scandals, where companies passed off ordinary rice as premium "Wuchang" grains or mixed it with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. While there have been instances of rice contamination and high bacteria levels, these do not indicate the presence of plastic.
To identify potential plastic rice, consumers can perform simple tests, such as the water test, where rice is submerged in water, and real rice will sink while plastic rice may float. Other tests include the fire test, where burning rice emits a distinct plastic-like smell, and the fungus test, where authentic rice develops mould after being boiled and stored.
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Tests prove rice isn't plastic
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Africa and other parts of the world have been circulating since 2010, driven by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls. In 2016, the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 2.5 tons of smuggled rice and sent it for testing. The customs chief initially claimed the rice was plastic, but the country's health minister later refuted this, stating there was no evidence to support these claims. Tests showed that the rice contained high levels of bacteria, but this is normal for real rice.
The Ghana Food and Drugs Authority also investigated the rumours, inviting consumers and traders to submit samples of any rice brands they suspected of being made of plastic. They concluded that no plastic rice was being sold on the Ghanaian market.
In 2017, Bangalore Mirror sent samples of "plastic rice" to the University of Agricultural Sciences for testing. After intensive research and several rounds of tests, experts concluded that it is not possible to have fake rice. They found that the samples had moisture, protein, and fat levels within acceptable ranges, indicating poor quality rather than plastic rice.
While there have been reports of rice substitutes made with potatoes and industrial sticky resin, these are edible and not the same as the rumoured plastic rice. Food safety agencies have yet to find evidence of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice.
To identify potential plastic rice, you can perform a water test by submerging the rice in water. Real rice will sink to the bottom, while plastic rice will float. Another method is the fire test, where you burn a scoop of rice with a lighter. If it's plastic, it will smell like charred wood or formaldehyde. However, these tests are not definitive, and food safety agencies have not found evidence to support the existence of plastic rice.
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Rice can be artificially fortified
There have been rumours of "plastic rice" being sold in Africa and other parts of the world. However, there is little evidence to support these claims. Food safety agencies have not found any proof of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice. In fact, preparing rice in a certain way can make it bounce, and real rice can float in water, both of which are often cited as proof of rice being plastic.
Rice is a staple food for around three billion people worldwide, providing up to 50-60% of their daily energy and protein intake. It is also cultivated and consumed in almost all parts of the world. However, milled white rice is often low in vitamins and minerals, as these are found predominantly in the germ and bran layers, which are removed during milling. As a result, rice can be artificially fortified with vitamins and minerals to address micronutrient malnutrition. Fortification is the process of increasing the content of essential micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, in a food to improve its nutritional quality.
Rice fortification can be implemented in modern mills with a production capacity of at least 5 metric tons per hour, or in large distribution channels such as government programs. Fortified kernels can be blended with unfortified rice at ratios between 1:50 and 1:200, resulting in a price increase of 2-5% for consumers. Fortification costs are expected to decrease as the practice becomes more common. Several methods for fortifying rice exist, including extrusion, coating, and dusting.
Extrusion involves passing a dough made from rice flour, broken rice kernels, and a mixture of vitamins and minerals through an extruder to create fortified rice-shaped kernels. Coating involves spraying rice with a mix of vitamins, minerals, waxes, and gums to help the nutrients adhere. Dusting involves coating rice with a powdery mix of vitamins and minerals, although this method is not suitable for cultures where rice is rinsed or cooked in excess water, as the nutrients will be washed off.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no evidence that plastic rice is being manufactured and added to real rice. If rice was actually made of plastic, it wouldn't expand and cook properly. However, there are artificial rice products that are made from edible ingredients, such as NutriRice and Ultra Rice, which are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
The plastic rice rumour originated in China in 2010 and spread via social media. It was rumoured that plastic rice was being manufactured and mixed with real rice to trick consumers. Videos circulated showing people bouncing rice balls, which fuelled the rumour. However, it's been debunked by authorities and journalists, who claim that the bouncing is due to the natural characteristics of rice, and that the rice in the videos is likely contaminated with bacteria.
There are a few tests you can do to check if your rice is plastic. One is the water test: place your rice in a bowl and cover it with water. Real rice will sink to the bottom, while plastic rice will float. Another test is the fire test: scoop some rice with a tablespoon and carefully burn it with a lighter. If it's plastic, it will smell like charred wood or formaldehyde.
