Plastic Rice Fake: Officials

Hyderabad: After the plastic rice created storm in both the Telugu states this week, the Telangana civil supplies officials have struck off the news saying it to be false.

"We collected the samples from various traders and the reports that came in on Wednesday revealed that no plastic material was found in the rice," said CV Anand, commissioner of civil supplies. The tests were conducted not only in civil supplies corporation, but samples were also sent to the state food laboratory for more stringent chemical tests.

Fake News On Social Media

News about plastic rice flooding from China got circulated on social media creating panic among people in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The officials further added that during testing they soaked the rice, but as it wasn't made of plastic as it didn't float. Secondly, cooked rice samples were taken which were then made balls and were hit at the floor. "The balls bounced like rubber balls and it happens with the normal cooked rice," said the official.

Plastic Rice Is Expensive: Traders

Plastic traders say that plastic is more expensive in comparison with top quality rice grain and is not feasible to produce plastic rice. Manufacturing a kilo of small crystals to look like rice grains would cost Rs75. A city plastic trader Sanjay Jain said, “Why would China take the trouble to manufacture plastic rice when top quality fine rice is available at Rs50 per kg in our markets. There is no possibility of manufacturing rice with plastic."

Rice millers rue that the false rumors affected their business, adding, that previously customers wanted fine rice but now they demand pure rice.

Plastic Rice Rumors Hit Biryani Lovers

Inmates of private hostels and people who usually gorge their favorite biryani from hotels have distanced themselves from purchasing. This in turn resulted in a dip in sales of biryani not just in Hyderabad but also neighboring Andhra Pradesh. However, the hoteliers claim that there was no need for them to use plastic rice as the state has enough reserves of fine rice and it is cheaper than whatever fake rice is in the market.