Chloe Zhang
Rumours of plastic being sold as rice have been circulating since 2010, with viral videos of 'bouncing rice balls' and fake news stories fuelling the fire. However, there is little truth to these claims. While artificial rice does exist, it is usually made from broken rice, other cereals, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. In 2011, reports emerged that some Chinese companies were producing a fake rice substitute made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, and synthetic resin, but this was not pure plastic and was not being sold as real rice. While some rice may be contaminated with microplastics, this is not the same as being made of plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic rice is made from plastic | False |
| Plastic rice is rice that has been stored for a long time | True |
| Plastic rice is harmful to health | True |
| Plastic rice is sprayed with paraffin wax | True |
| Plastic rice is mixed with potatoes and synthetic resin | True |
| Plastic rice is a xenophobic myth | True |
| Plastic rice is sold in parts of the world with lax food safety standards | True |
| Plastic rice is a fake food scandal originating in China | True |
| Plastic rice is a result of food fraud for greater profit | True |
| Plastic rice is fortified with vitamins and minerals | True |
| Plastic rice is a myth fuelled by social media and fake videos | True |
| Plastic rice is real rice but contaminated with microplastics | True |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic rice is a myth
Viral videos of 'bouncing rice balls' have also contributed to the spread of the plastic rice myth. While these videos may be authentic, they do not necessarily indicate the presence of plastic. According to Alexander Waugh, director of the UK-based Rice Association, rice - when prepared in a certain way - can bounce due to its natural characteristics of carbohydrates and proteins.
The plastic rice myth has been particularly prevalent in countries that are heavily dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast and Senegal. However, food safety authorities in these regions have actively addressed the rumours, stating that there is no evidence of plastic rice.
It is worth mentioning that while pure "plastic rice" may be a myth, there have been cases of rice being contaminated with mould and treated with chemicals like paraffin wax, leading to it being labelled as "plastic rice". Additionally, the presence of microplastics in rice, especially in instant rice, has been a growing concern. According to research by the University of Queensland, people may be consuming up to 13 milligrams of plastic per 100 grams of instant rice. However, this is not the same as consuming pure plastic rice, as the plastic is present in microscopic amounts.
In summary, the idea of plastic rice being mixed with real rice on a large scale is a myth. While there have been instances of food fraud and rice contamination, there is no evidence to support the widespread existence of plastic rice. The rumours and concerns surrounding plastic rice have been addressed by various authorities and experts, who have worked to reassure the public that these fears are unfounded.
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Fake rice videos
Several viral videos have fuelled the fake rumours of "plastic" rice being sold in Africa and other parts of the world. These videos, which have circulated on social media platforms like Facebook, show people bouncing rice balls and purport to reveal how the fake rice is made in factories. One such video, depicting glass processing in a South Korean factory, was falsely claimed to be showing the production of fake rice.
The rumours of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice supplies originated in China around 2010, prompted by "fake rice" scandals. However, these scandals did not involve food made entirely of plastic. Instead, they involved companies passing off ordinary rice as premium "Wuchang" grains or producing rice with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. Despite little evidence of a widespread problem, the rumours persist, especially in countries dependent on imported rice like Ivory Coast and Senegal.
Alexander Waugh, director of the UK-based Rice Association, acknowledges that the videos may be authentic but attributes the bouncing rice balls to the natural characteristics of rice when prepared in a certain way. Waugh suggests that the rumours may stem from protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports. Journalist Alexandre Capron, who has worked to debunk the myths, agrees and believes that some people are deliberately sharing fake videos to encourage the purchase of locally grown rice.
Hassan Arouni, editor of the BBC's Focus on Africa, acknowledges the impact of these rumours in West African countries and commends local food safety authorities for addressing them head-on. While there may be concerns about the origin of these rumours, it is important to note that no large-scale cases of plastic chips being passed off as rice have been confirmed. The cost of producing such plastic chips would likely be more expensive than real rice, making it economically unviable.
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Plastic rice in Africa
Rumours of "plastic rice" being sold in Africa have been circulating on social media since about 2010. These rumours were fuelled by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls and the rice being made in factories. In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice that was initially believed to be plastic. However, there was no evidence to support these claims, and tests showed that the rice contained high levels of bacteria. Nonetheless, the rumours persisted, particularly in countries dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast and Senegal. Governments and food safety authorities in West Africa have been compelled to address these rumours directly, assuring the public that there is no plastic rice being sold in their markets.
The term "plastic rice" refers to rice that has been poorly stored for up to a decade. The rice becomes contaminated with moulds, turning from white to green. To disguise this, fraudsters bleach the rice to restore its white colour. However, the bleaching process removes the shiny surface of the rice, so they spray it with paraffin wax to make it look authentic. This treatment affects the cooking properties of the rice, making it stickier than usual, hence the term "plastic rice".
While there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem in Africa, the rumours have caused concern among consumers and led to investigations by food authorities. In 2017, the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority invited consumers and traders to submit samples of any rice brands they suspected of being made of plastic. Their investigation concluded that there was no plastic rice being sold on the Ghanaian market.
The persistence of the plastic rice rumours in Africa may be due to a combination of factors, including protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports, particularly from countries with a history of food safety scandals, such as China. Additionally, some people may be deliberately spreading misinformation to encourage consumers to buy locally grown rice.
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Plastic rice in Asia
Plastic rice is a term used to refer to fake rice that is made of synthetic materials and is harmful to health. The term is also used to refer to rice that has been badly stored and treated with chemicals to make it appear fresh.
Rumours of plastic rice being manufactured and mixed with real rice supplies have been circulating on social media since around 2010, originating in China. These rumours were prompted by "fake rice" scandals, where companies passed off ordinary rice as premium "Wuchang" grains. In 2011, reports emerged that some Chinese rice was being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. These rumours were further fuelled by viral videos of 'bouncing rice balls' and videos purporting to show the shady manufacturing of fake rice in factories.
The rumours of plastic rice have been particularly prevalent in countries that are dependent on imported rice, such as those in West Africa and South East Asia. Food safety authorities in these regions have had to address the rumours directly and reassure the public that there is no plastic rice being sold as real rice.
While there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic rice chips being passed off as real rice, there are concerns about the presence of microplastics in rice. According to research by the University of Queensland, people are consuming three to four milligrams of plastic for every 100 grams of rice they eat, with the number jumping to 13 milligrams per serve for instant rice. The research found that washing rice before cooking reduced plastic contamination by 20 to 40 per cent.
It is important to distinguish between fake rice made of synthetic materials and artificial rice, which is a grain product made to resemble rice and is often fortified with micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Artificial rice is usually made from broken rice and other cereals and is created using hot extrusion technology to visually resemble natural rice. Examples of artificial rice include NutriRice and Ultra Rice, which have been developed to address issues of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
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Fortified rice
There is no evidence to suggest that white rice is mixed with plastic. However, rumours of "plastic rice" being sold, particularly in Africa, have circulated online since about 2010. These rumours were fuelled by viral videos of 'bouncing rice balls' and reports of rice being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. In 2011, it was also reported that "plastic rice" was being manufactured for use in shipping boxes. However, there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice.
Instead, the term "fortified rice" is used to describe rice that has been enhanced with additional nutrients. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the global population and provides more than 20% of the world's calorie intake. While it is a great source of energy, it is a poor source of micronutrients and has low overall nutritional value. Fortified rice aims to address this issue by adding vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients such as amino acids and fibres to the rice post-harvest. This process can involve coating or extruding rice kernels with a mix of vitamins and minerals, or dusting unfortified rice with a micronutrient powder. Fortified rice can be blended with unfortified rice during the milling process or in point-of-use situations such as school feeding programs.
The fortification of rice is particularly important in low-income countries where rice can make up to 70% of an individual's calorie intake. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also an issue outside of low-income countries, affecting most regions worldwide at varying levels. Fortifying rice with specific nutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin A, and zinc can be used as a public health strategy to improve the nutritional status of populations.
The cost of rice fortification is expected to decrease as it becomes more common and competitive markets emerge. Initial capital investment in fortified kernel production can range from US$0.3 million to US$4 million, depending on the technology used. The cost to fortify one metric ton of rice varies, with estimates ranging from US$10 to US$30. By comparison, the average price of one metric ton of rice from Thailand and Vietnam in 2018 was about US$400.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no evidence that white rice is mixed with plastic. However, there have been rumours circulating since 2010 that plastic rice is being manufactured and mixed with real rice supplies. These rumours were fuelled by viral videos of bouncing rice balls and fake rice scandals, where ordinary rice was passed off as premium grains. While there have been cases of artificial rice substitutes made from potatoes and industrial sticky resin, there are no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being sold as rice.
Artificial rice is typically made from broken rice, sometimes with other cereals, and can be fortified with micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. It is made using rice-making machines that shape these ingredients into rice-shaped pellets.
Consuming significant amounts of plastic is harmful to one's health. According to a study by the University of Queensland, people consume around 3-4 milligrams of plastic for every 100 grams of rice, with instant rice containing up to 13 milligrams per serve. Washing rice before cooking can reduce plastic contamination by 20-40%.
