Chloe Zhang
Rumors of plastic rice being sold in Africa have been circulating since 2010, with the story reaching social media in 2016. In 2011, a report by The Korea Times claimed that distributors in China were selling fake rice made from a mixture of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic. This report sparked concerns about the hazards of consuming synthetic resin, with some even alleging that eating three bowls of this fake rice was equivalent to consuming a plastic bag. Similar reports and videos emerged in Nigeria, where authorities confiscated 2.5 tons of suspected plastic rice. However, these claims were later refuted, as tests revealed no evidence of plastic content. While the existence of plastic rice remains a myth, the persistence of the rumors highlights the importance of addressing food safety concerns and combating fraud, especially in regions with limited access to advanced food safety infrastructure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic rice made in China | Flooded Western markets |
| Plastic rice being sold in Africa | Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Gambia |
| Plastic rice is cheaper to produce | Synthetic rice is cheaper to produce than real rice |
| Plastic rice is made of | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, plastic, synthetic resins |
| Plastic rice is hard | Rice stays hard even after being cooked |
| Plastic rice smells like chemicals | The rice had a chemical smell, which is why Nigerian customs assumed it was plastic |
| Plastic rice is sticky | The rice was overly sticky |
| Plastic rice is contaminated with bacteria | Nigeria's National Agency For Food and Drugs confirmed the presence of bacteria |
| Plastic rice is old | When rice is old, it becomes sticky and extremely condensed, hence the bouncing |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic rice is fake news
The idea of plastic rice has been a topic of discussion since 2010, with the story gaining traction in 2011. Various reports in the media have claimed that Chinese companies are mass-producing fake rice made from plastic. In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, initially claimed to be plastic, but later found to be regular rice with high levels of bacteria. While there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice, the rumours persist, fuelled by videos showing people bouncing rice balls and rice being made in factories.
The Rice Association's director, Alexander Waugh, states that while the videos may be authentic, the assumption that the rice is plastic is incorrect. Rice, when prepared correctly, can bounce due to its carbohydrate and protein content. Journalist Alexandre Capron supports this claim and suggests that the rumours may be deliberately spread to encourage consumers to buy locally grown rice.
The term 'plastic rice' may also refer to rice that has been poorly stored for up to a decade, becoming contaminated with mould. Fraudsters may bleach this rice to restore its colour and then coat it with paraffin wax to regain its shine, resulting in rice that doesn't cook properly and resembles plastic rice.
While the idea of plastic rice has captured the public's imagination, it is largely considered fake news. Food safety authorities and journalists have actively debunked these rumours, and no substantial evidence has been found to support the claims. It is important to rely on trusted sources and fact-checking organisations to separate myth from reality.
In summary, the plastic rice phenomenon is primarily driven by rumours, social media videos, and misinformation. While some cases of contaminated or adulterated rice have been reported, there is no widespread evidence of plastic rice being produced or consumed. Consumers should remain vigilant and rely on trusted sources for their information to make informed decisions about food safety.
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Plastic rice videos are hoaxes
One of the most widely circulated videos shows what appears to be a factory producing plastic rice. The video shows men feeding transparent sheets of plastic into a machine that spits out long, thin ribbons that are then cut into tiny, translucent pellets. However, this video has been debunked, as the product being made is likely plastic pellets used to protect fragile objects during packaging, as indicated by a bag with the name "Eva" visible in the video. "Eva" is the name of a product made by Sinopec, a Chinese company that manufactures polyethylene.
Another common argument used to support the existence of plastic rice is its unusual bounciness. Videos have surfaced online of people moulding rice into balls and then bouncing them, assuming it is due to the presence of plastic. However, Alexander Waugh, director of the Rice Association, refutes this claim. Waugh explains that rice, when prepared correctly, can indeed bounce due to its natural carbohydrate and protein content. Additionally, old rice with reduced amylose and increased amylopectin can become very sticky and condensed, leading to a bouncy texture.
The rumours of plastic rice have primarily circulated in regions dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Gambia, and various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These regions often lack the necessary infrastructure and measures to effectively check and test for food safety. Alexandre Capron of France 24's "The Observers" suggests that the persistence of these rumours could be driven by protectionism and a general distrust of foreign imports, with some individuals deliberately spreading misinformation to promote the purchase of locally grown rice.
While there have been reports of contaminated and low-quality rice being sold in these regions, the claims of plastic rice have not been substantiated. In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities initially claimed to have confiscated 2.5 tonnes of plastic rice but were later forced to revoke their statement. Lab tests revealed that the rice was indeed regular rice, although it was contaminated with high levels of bacteria.
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Plastic rice is old rice treated with chemicals
The idea of "plastic rice" has been a topic of discussion and concern for many years, with the earliest mentions of it appearing on the internet around 2010. The term "plastic rice" was coined following a 2011 report by The Korea Times, which claimed that distributors in China were selling fake rice made from a mixture of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic.
While there have been instances of rice being sold that is contaminated or old, there is no evidence to support the claim that large amounts of plastic chips are being passed off as rice. In fact, it is likely that the cost of producing such fake rice would be higher than that of real rice, making it unprofitable. The rumours of plastic rice being sold are likely a result of protectionism and a general distrust of foreign imports, particularly in countries highly dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast and Senegal.
In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, initially claiming it to be plastic. However, these claims were later revoked as tests showed that the rice was, in fact, regular rice that was contaminated with bacteria. While the rice did have a chemical smell and was overly sticky, these characteristics were likely due to poor storage rather than the addition of plastic.
The unusual bounciness of the rice, which has been demonstrated in many online videos, can be explained by the natural characteristics of rice. When rice is more than a few years old, the starch component amylose diminishes, while amylopectin increases. This causes the rice to become very sticky when heated and extremely condensed when dried, resulting in a bouncy texture.
The rumours of plastic rice have been perpetuated by fake videos and stories shared on social media, which have been fuelled by a lack of food safety infrastructure in developing regions. While there is no evidence of plastic rice being sold, the persistence of these rumours has led governments and food safety authorities, particularly in West Africa, to address them directly to reassure the public and dispel the myths.
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Plastic rice rumours are fuelled by distrust of foreign imports
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Africa and other parts of the world have been circulating since 2010, with viral videos showing people bouncing rice balls and others purporting to show how the rice is made in factories. In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, initially claiming it was plastic, but later backtracking when the country's health minister said there was no evidence for the claims. Despite little evidence that it's a widespread problem, the rumours persist, fuelled by distrust of foreign imports.
According to journalist Alexandre Capron of France 24's The Observers, protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports are behind the persistence of the rumours. Capron has worked to debunk the myths and says some people are deliberately sharing fake videos to encourage consumers to buy locally grown rice. "The rumour is more popular in countries which are dependent on imported rice like Ivory Coast or Senegal," he says. "The rumour is so huge that governments are compelled to make statements... as to why there is no plastic rice."
Hassan Arouni, editor of the BBC's Focus on Africa, has also looked into the rumours and thinks food safety authorities in West Africa are doing the right thing by addressing them head-on. "I think that's the way to go and demonstrate to the public this [rumour] is not true," he says. "I think it will reassure people that this is fake news and probably somebody being naughty on the internet."
While there is no evidence of large amounts of plastic being passed off as rice, there have been reports of rice being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. In one case, a Chinese restaurant association official warned that eating three bowls of this "plastic rice" was the equivalent of eating one plastic bag. However, it's important to note that "plastic rice" is manufactured for use in shipping boxes and is likely more expensive than real rice, making it unlikely to be used for food production.
The rumours of plastic rice are likely fuelled by a combination of factors, including a distrust of foreign imports, protectionism, and a lack of food safety infrastructure in developing countries. While there is no evidence of widespread plastic rice contamination, the rumours persist and have led to investigations by food safety authorities in various countries.
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Plastic rice is a result of Chinese conspiracy
Plastic rice is a term used to refer to fake rice allegedly made from plastic and sold in African and Southeast Asian countries. The earliest reports of plastic rice emerged in 2010, with the story gaining traction in 2011. In February 2011, publications such as Raw Story and The Mary Sue reported on the plastic rice controversy, noting that the claims were not substantiated. However, the lack of substantiation did not stop the story from spreading.
In 2016, the plastic rice story resurfaced on social media, particularly in African countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and the Gambia. This resurgence was fueled by videos and images circulated online, allegedly showing plastic rice being manufactured in factories and sold in markets. One particular video showed two men feeding transparent sheets of plastic into a machine, producing tiny pellets that resembled rice grains. However, it was later identified that the machine was likely producing plastic pellets used for packing materials, rather than rice.
Despite the lack of evidence, the rumours of plastic rice persisted and even led to government involvement. In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, initially claiming it to be plastic. However, they were later forced to backtrack when laboratory tests showed no evidence of plastic in the rice. The rice was, however, found to contain high levels of bacteria.
While the exact origins of the plastic rice conspiracy are unclear, some have pointed to China as the source of the conspiracy. Reports have alleged that Chinese companies are mass-producing fake rice made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic. A Chinese Restaurant Association official warned that consuming this fake rice was equivalent to eating plastic bags. These allegations come alongside other controversies surrounding tainted or defective products exported from China, such as poisonous drywall and tainted milk.
The spread of the plastic rice conspiracy has been attributed to various factors, including food safety concerns, protectionism, and a distrust of foreign imports. In regions with inadequate food safety infrastructure, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, consumers are more vulnerable to fraudulent food products. The persistence of the rumours has also been fuelled by the sharing of fake videos and misinformation, which may be intentionally spread to encourage the purchase of locally grown rice.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the story about plastic rice is not true. It is a myth and a rumour that has been circulating on the internet since 2010.
Plastic rice is rice that has been stored for a long time and not in good conditions. The rice gets contaminated with moulds and loses its nice white colour. To make it seem fresh, it is bleached and coated with paraffin wax, which makes it seem like plastic.
People believe the myth of plastic rice due to the unusual bounciness of rice. Videos have been posted online of people moulding rice into balls and then bouncing them, then assuming it's because of plastic. However, the starch in rice contains amylose and amylopectin, which makes it sticky and bouncy.
The plastic rice is being sold in regions that do not have the measures to check and test for food safety, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, and some parts of India.
