Ethan Clarke
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Africa and other parts of the world have been circulating on social media since 2010, driven by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls. Despite little evidence that it's a widespread problem, the rumours have persisted, fuelled by concerns about food safety and distrust of foreign imports. While food safety agencies have found no evidence of plastic rice, the rumour has led to investigations by government authorities and public statements denying the existence of plastic rice. The notion of plastic rice may be attributed to rice that has been poorly stored and contaminated with mould, which is then bleached and coated with paraffin wax, resulting in an unnatural appearance and cooking behaviour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the plastic rice myth | Africa, especially West Africa, and China |
| Reasons for the myth's popularity | Lack of food safety infrastructure, protectionism, and distrust of foreign imports |
| Countries implicated | China, Malaysia, Vietnam |
| Composition of "plastic rice" | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic or synthetic resin |
| Health effects | Kidney, liver, lung problems, and cancer |
| Detection methods | Water test, hot oil test, fungus test, fire test |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic rice is a myth
Despite rumours circulating online, there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem. The rumours, which have been around since about 2010, claim that plastic rice is being manufactured in China and mixed in with the real rice supply. However, there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice.
In 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, which they initially claimed was plastic. However, they were later forced to backtrack when the country's health minister said there was no evidence for the claims. Similarly, in 2015, the Jakarta Post reported that synthetic rice was a "hoax". Multiple government departments in India have also conducted inspections and raids specifically looking for plastic rice, but none has been found.
The rumours of plastic rice appear to have originated from fake rice scandals, where ordinary rice was passed off as premium "Wuchang" grains. In some cases, rice was also found to be treated with synthetic resin to make it look like higher-quality rice. While there is no evidence of plastic rice, it is possible that some rice could be partially adulterated with plastic resins.
The persistence of the rumours may be due to protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports, particularly in countries dependent on imported rice. Viral videos showing bouncing rice balls have also fuelled the rumours, although rice industry experts have stated that rice can bounce when prepared in a certain way.
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It's likely poorly stored rice
Rumours of plastic rice have been circulating on social media since about 2010, with videos showing bouncing rice balls and claims that plastic rice is manufactured and mixed in with real rice. Despite the persistent rumours, there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem. Food safety agencies have yet to find evidence to support these claims.
According to food fraud expert Professor Chris Elliott, it is likely that reports of plastic rice are incorrect. He suggests that the rice may have been actual rice that had been poorly stored for up to a decade. Elliott, a professor of food safety and founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast, explained that the economics of using plastic do not make sense, as plastic is more expensive than rice.
In an interview with Food Safety News, Elliott described the process by which poorly stored rice could be mistaken for plastic rice:
> "The rice had become badly contaminated with molds and instead of that nice white color, had turned into an unpleasant green color and what the fraudsters had done was they had taken that rice out of the stores and bleached it to get back the nice white color. The only problem was whenever you bleach rice it loses the nice shiny surface so to get that back they sprayed it with paraffin wax. With that paraffin coating on it, it didn’t cook properly, hence the reason it was called plastic rice."
While there may not be widespread evidence of plastic rice, there have been concerns about food fraud and the presence of synthetic resins in rice. In 2011, reports emerged that rice was being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin. A Chinese restaurant association official warned that eating three bowls of this "plastic rice" was equivalent to eating one plastic bag. Additionally, rice samples from a store in Bekasi were found to contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and plasticizer chemical substances, which are usually found in hydraulic tools and electric capacitors. These substances are known to cause kidney, liver, lung problems, and cancer if consumed.
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![[Product of Japan, Iwate Prefecture] Sakura Hitomebore Rice, White Rice, Special A Rating National Rice Taste Ranking 純情米いわて 岩手県産 - 11 Pound / 5KG](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71K0Esd1lcL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Videos of bouncing rice balls fuelled the rumour
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Africa and elsewhere have persisted on social media, fuelled by videos of people bouncing rice balls. The videos, which have gone viral, show rice balls bouncing off walls like rubber or ping-pong balls. These videos have caused such panic among rice eaters that food safety officials have been flooded with complaints of plastic rice being sold by retailers or served at restaurants.
In 2017, a video posted by an Indian living in Oslo, Norway, received 2.6 million views in 12 days. The video showed a packet of India Gate-brand rice being bounced off a wall. However, the company denied the claims, stating that the video was misleading and presented no scientific evidence to support the allegation that the rice was made of plastic.
In another instance, consumers at a bus depot in Chennai started throwing large rice balls at passing buses, alleging that the government canteen was serving plastic rice. Food safety officials were compelled to collect samples of rice from the canteen for testing. Similar incidents occurred in Delhi, where food safety officials had to investigate bouncing rice balls in restaurants.
The rumours of plastic rice were further fuelled by a statement from a Chinese restaurant association official, who warned that eating three bowls of "plastic rice" was equivalent to consuming a plastic bag. However, there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice. "Plastic rice" is typically manufactured for use in shipping boxes, and it is unlikely that it would be cheaper than real rice.
While the videos of bouncing rice balls may be authentic, experts have explained that rice, when prepared in a certain way, can indeed bounce. Dr Nagappa G Malleshi, a former head of Grains, Science and Technology at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, stated that rice is 80% starch, containing amylose and amylopectin. When cooked, these components swell and leach out, making the rice sticky. When mashed and formed into a ball, the rice sticks together and traps air, allowing it to bounce. The amount of bounce depends on the amylose content of the rice. Additionally, Dr VP Singh, a former head of the Division of Genetics at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute-IARI, attributed the bouncing effect to the adhesive and cohesive properties of starch in rice, which cause volume expansion and air entrapment when thrown.
The persistence of the rumours has been attributed to protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports, particularly in countries heavily dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast and Senegal.
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Plastic rice is more expensive to make than real rice
Despite rumours circulating online since 2010, there is no evidence that plastic rice is being manufactured and added to real rice. Food safety agencies have been unable to find any evidence supporting these claims. In fact, plastic rice would be more expensive to make than real rice. Plastic is more expensive than rice, so it would cost more for companies to manufacture rice from plastic.
The plastic rice rumour originated in China in 2010 and spread to other parts of the world, including Africa, where it gained particular traction in countries dependent on imported rice, such as Ivory Coast and Senegal. The rumour was fuelled by videos on social media that showed people bouncing rice balls, claiming that the rice held its shape and bounced when rolled into a ball because it was made of plastic. However, rice, when cooked properly, can also bounce due to its carbohydrate and protein content.
In some cases, the rumours were prompted by ""fake rice" scandals, where companies passed off ordinary rice as premium grains. In 2011, there were reports of rice being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin, which caused the rice to remain hard even after cooking. This type of rice was also referred to as "plastic rice", but it was not made entirely of plastic. While this type of rice does exist, it is not widespread, and there have been no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice.
The confusion around plastic rice may also be due to the practice of bleaching rice, which causes it to lose its shiny surface. To counteract this, some manufacturers spray the rice with paraffin wax, which can affect its cooking properties and give it a plastic-like appearance. Additionally, some rice may be made from synthetic resins, which are more expensive than rice, but this does not mean that the rice is made of plastic.
While there may be issues with rice adulteration and contamination, the plastic rice rumour is likely exaggerated, and consumers can take steps to test their rice for authenticity, such as the water test or microwave test.
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It's a way to express concerns about Chinese imports
Rumours of plastic rice have been circulating since around 2010, originating in China and spreading to other parts of the world, particularly Africa. Despite little evidence, the rumours persist, fuelled by viral videos on social media. While there have been reports of fake rice scandals and tainted or defective products coming out of China, there is no confirmed evidence of large amounts of plastic rice being passed off as real rice.
The plastic rice rumour can be seen as a way for people to express their concerns and reservations about Chinese imports. This is especially true in countries that are highly dependent on imported rice, such as those in West Africa. The rumour allows people to voice their distrust of foreign imports and their concerns about food safety and quality.
In some cases, the rumours may be driven by protectionist sentiments, as suggested by journalist Alexandre Capron. People may be deliberately targeting food-exporting countries like China to protect their own domestic industries and express their reservations about exotic or culturally unpalatable ingredients in Chinese exports.
The impact of these rumours can be significant, leading to public panic and even government intervention. For example, in 2016, Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice, initially claiming it was plastic, only to later backtrack on their statement. Similarly, in 2015, there was a public panic in Jakarta, Indonesia, over rumours of synthetic rice in the market, which prompted investigations by various agencies and assurances from the trade minister that there was no fake rice in distribution.
While there may be a lack of evidence for widespread plastic rice contamination, the rumour persists and is taken seriously by many. It is important for food safety authorities to address these concerns directly and provide reassurance to the public, as was done by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority and the Indonesian trade minister.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic rice is rice that is said to be made by mixing potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plastic. The potatoes are first formed into the shape of rice grains, and then industrial synthetic resins are added to the mix.
Plastic rice is said to originate from China. However, there is little evidence that it is a widespread problem. The rumour is more popular in countries that are dependent on imported rice, such as those in West Africa.
Food safety agencies have yet to find evidence of the existence of plastic rice. However, there are some tests that you can perform at home to identify plastic rice. One test is to drop a tablespoon of rice into a glass of water and stir for a few seconds. If the rice is plastic, it will float. Another test is to coat a pan with oil, heat it up, and add a thin layer of rice. If the grains contract and melt, they are likely plastic.
