Sofia Martinez
Rumours of plastic rice have been circulating online since 2010, with viral videos showing bouncing rice balls and claims that rice is being sold in Africa and elsewhere that is made of plastic. Despite this, food safety agencies have found little evidence to support these claims. However, University of Queensland research has found that 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. While the health effects of consuming microplastics are still unknown, exposure is believed to cause some risk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic content in instant rice | 13 milligrams per serve |
| Plastic content in uncooked rice | 3-4 milligrams per 100 grams |
| Plastic rice identification method | Drop a tablespoon of rice in a glass of water and stir. Fake rice will float. |
| Plastic rice identification method | Add a thin layer of rice to a hot pan of oil. If the grains contract and melt, it's probably plastic rice. |
| Plastic rice identification method | Check for a thick residue from melting plastic while cooking. |
| Plastic rice identification method | Check for a plastic smell when heated. |
| Plastic rice identification method | Compare the rice to plastic rice beads. |
| Artificial rice | Made from broken rice, sometimes with other cereals, fortified with vitamins and minerals. |
| Artificial rice | Ultra Rice, NutriRice, Okssal, Konjac rice, Ptitim |
| Plastic rice rumours | Originated in China around 2010 |
| Plastic rice rumours | Spread in Africa, specifically Senegal, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria |
| Plastic rice rumours | Driven by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls |
| Plastic rice rumours | Debunked by food safety authorities in multiple countries |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic rice in Africa
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Africa have been circulating on social media since around 2010, with viral videos showing bouncing rice balls and how rice is made in factories. In 2016, the story reached a peak when Nigerian customs authorities confiscated 2.5 tonnes of rice that they claimed was plastic. However, they later backtracked when the country's health minister said there was no evidence for the claims. The rice did, however, contain a high level of bacteria, according to Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drugs.
The rumours of plastic rice in Africa originated in China, with reports that plastic rice made in the country had flooded Western markets. However, it is likely that the cost of plastic chips would be more expensive than real rice, making the large-scale production of plastic rice unlikely. In addition, the rumours were prompted by "fake rice" scandals, which did not involve food made entirely of plastic but rather a mixture of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and synthetic resin (plastic).
The persistence of the rumours may be due to protectionism and a distrust of foreign imports, particularly in countries highly dependent on imported rice such as Ivory Coast and Senegal. Despite the lack of evidence, the rumours have spread to other African countries, including Senegal, The Gambia, and Ghana, leading to investigations by food and drug authorities. These authorities have concluded that there is no plastic rice being sold in their markets.
While there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem in Africa, food safety authorities in West Africa have addressed the rumours head-on to reassure the public that it is fake news. The spread of misinformation and panic in African countries due to these rumours highlights the importance of addressing such issues directly and providing accurate information to the public.
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Plastic rice in Asia
Rumours of plastic rice being sold in Asia and Africa have been circulating on social media since around 2010, driven by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls. In 2016, the BBC reported that 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice" had been confiscated in Nigeria, although the country's health minister later stated there was no evidence for the claims.
Despite the persistent rumours, there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem. Food fraud expert Professor Chris Elliott of Queen's University Belfast investigated the rumours and found them to be likely incorrect. He noted that plastic is more expensive than rice, making it unlikely that rice is being made from plastic. Instead, he suggested that the so-called "plastic rice" could be actual rice that has been poorly stored for up to a decade, becoming contaminated with moulds and losing its nice white colour. To restore the colour, fraudsters may have bleached the rice, which also removes its shiny surface. To fix this, the rice may have been sprayed with paraffin wax, which would prevent it from cooking properly and could explain why it was labelled as "plastic rice".
In response to the rumours, various government agencies and food safety authorities have conducted investigations and testing. The Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, for example, has stated that it has not received any reports of fake rice and that imported rice is regularly inspected and sampled to ensure compliance with food safety standards. Similarly, the Government Laboratory in Hong Kong tested samples of incriminated rice and confirmed that all samples were genuine rice and passed chemical analyses.
While there may not be widespread evidence of plastic rice, it is important to note that the consumption of plastic through contaminated rice is a real concern. Research from the University of Queensland found that 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 study also found that washing rice before cooking reduced plastic contamination by 20 to 40 per cent. While the health effects of consuming microplastics are still not fully understood, exposure is believed to pose some level of risk.
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Plastic rice in the West
Since 2010, rumours have circulated on social media that plastic rice is being manufactured in China and exported to other countries, including those in the West. These rumours were fuelled by viral videos showing bouncing rice balls, which some people claim are made of plastic. In 2016, the BBC reported that 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice" had been confiscated in Nigeria, although the country's health minister later stated that there was no evidence to support these claims.
Despite the widespread belief that plastic rice is being sold in Africa and the West, there is little evidence to support these claims. Investigations by food safety authorities in Ghana and Nigeria, for example, found no plastic rice being sold in their markets. In addition, it has been pointed out that the cost of producing plastic rice would likely be higher than that of real rice, making it unlikely that anyone would try to pass it off as genuine.
However, it is important to note that there have been cases of food fraud involving rice. In some instances, companies have passed off ordinary rice as premium "Wuchang" grains. There have also been reports of rice being produced with potatoes and industrial sticky resin, which, while not entirely made of plastic, is still a form of food adulteration.
While the rumours of plastic rice may be unfounded, they have had a significant impact. They have led to increased consumer awareness and scrutiny of food products, particularly in countries with less robust food safety infrastructures. In addition, they have prompted discussions about the dangers of fake news and the role of social media in spreading misinformation.
Although plastic rice may not be a real threat, the persistence of the rumours underscores the importance of maintaining robust food safety standards and regulations. It also highlights the need for consumers to be vigilant and for governments to address these types of concerns head-on to reassure the public and maintain trust in the food supply chain.
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How to identify plastic rice
Despite the rumours, there is little evidence that plastic rice is a widespread problem. The plastic rice rumour began in China in 2010 and spread to West Africa in 2016. It was fuelled by viral videos on social media that showed bouncing rice balls and fake videos that encouraged consumers to buy locally-grown rice. In December 2016, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 2.5 tons of rice that was initially claimed to be plastic, but later tests showed no evidence of plastic rice.
If you want to stay cautious, there are some ways to test your rice to identify plastic rice:
- Water test: Drop a tablespoon of rice into a glass of water and stir for a few seconds. If the rice is plastic, it will float to the top after the mixture stops swirling.
- Heat test: When heated, plastic rice will melt and form a thick layer of residue on top of the vessel. It will also release a plastic smell.
- Oil test: Add a thin layer of rice to a hot pan of oil. If the grains are plastic, they will contract and melt.
It is important to note that rice is made of carbohydrates and proteins, which can cause rice to bounce if cooked properly. Additionally, plastic is more expensive than rice, so it would be costly for companies to manufacture plastic rice. While there may not be plastic rice, research has shown that people are consuming microplastics in rice, with higher levels found in instant rice.
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Artificial rice
Rumours of "plastic rice" being sold in Africa and elsewhere have been circulating on social media since 2010. These rumours were originally prompted by "fake rice" scandals and viral videos showing bouncing rice balls, which some people deliberately shared to encourage consumers to buy locally-grown rice. In 2016, the BBC reported that Nigerian customs authorities had confiscated 2.5 tonnes of "plastic rice", although the country's health minister later stated there was no evidence for these claims. The rice was found to contain high levels of bacteria.
In 2017, the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority carried out an investigation into the rumours and concluded that there was no plastic rice being sold on the Ghanaian market. Despite this, rumours of plastic rice continue to persist, with some people claiming that it is being manufactured in China and mixed in with real rice to trick consumers. However, it is important to note that there is little evidence that this is a widespread problem, and no confirmed cases of large amounts of plastic chips being passed off as rice. In fact, it is likely that the cost of producing plastic rice would be higher than that of real rice, making it a "no-win situation" for rice retailers.
While there may not be widespread evidence of plastic rice, there is research to suggest that people are consuming microplastics in their rice. A study by the University of Queensland found that 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 study also found that washing rice before cooking can reduce plastic contamination by 20 to 40 per cent. While the health effects of consuming microplastics are still largely unknown, exposure to them can pose an element of risk.
It is important to be critical of information found on social media and to fact-check claims made in viral videos. While artificial rice may not be a widespread problem, it is still important to be aware of food safety and to report any concerns to the appropriate authorities.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic rice refers to rice that is entirely made of plastic. However, there is little evidence that this is a widespread problem. Some people claim that rice made from plastic is sold and marketed as real rice. Others claim that plastic is added to real rice to increase the weight and sell it for a higher price.
There are a few ways to identify plastic rice. One way is to put a tablespoon of rice into a glass of water and stir it for a few seconds. If the rice is plastic, it will float to the top. Another way is to cook the rice and check for a thin layer of plastic residue. If you are cooking on a stovetop, check after 10 minutes. If you are cooking in a microwave, check after 3 minutes.
Plastic rice is cheaper to produce than real rice. It is also more profitable to sell.
Consuming plastic can be harmful to human health. However, the extent of the harm caused by consuming microplastics is still unknown.
