Lab tests show suspected fake rice is real rice —NFA

Samples of supposedly fake rice turned out to be the real thing, according to results of laboratory analyses ordered by the National Food Authority.

In a press briefing in Quezon City on Friday, NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino said that the rice samples tested negative for fake grains.

"Over the past week, we were bombarded with news of fake rice spreading quickly via social media. This has caused undue anxiety and alarm among the rice consumers," Aquino said.

"NFA immediately acted by seeking out the source of the viral video and those other complainants. NFA got samples from different regions, and a total of 6 raw rice and 2 cooked samples were subjected to analyses by our Food Development Center (FDC) laboratory. The result of all samples are ... totoong rice," he said.

This was supported by the Grains Retailers Confederation (GRECON) National President James Magbanua. "There is no such thing as fake rice ... only fake news," he said.

GRECON was alarmed by how the news about fake rice had spread and affected the business of retailers.

"The confederation ... is alarmed by the wild fire-like spread of news and social media posts on fake rice in the Philippines. Mukhang buong Pilipinas na ito, tuloy tuloy," Magbanua noted.

"There is no actual fake rice discovered hanggang ngayon mula nung 2015. Hence we are offended by the insinuation that members of GRECON at tsaka ibang retailers deliberately put additives or sell fake rice to the consuming public," he said.

NFA-FDC director Jocelyn Sales explained that the samples underwent three types of laboratory analyses – microscopic, starch and sensory – to test if the supposed fake rice contain harmful chemicals.

More expensive

Creating fake rice would be more expensive than cultivating real rice, Magbanua noted.

"Selling fake rice is a no-win situation. Hindi talaga, wala kaming panalo dito. There is simply no imaginable benefit from selling fake rice on the part of the retailers," he said.

"There is no incentive to selling fake rice. It is costlier to produce, mas mahal magproduce, ng fake rice or put plastic additives and news of this nature will destroy our business, taint our reputation, and create unnecessary panic or confusion," he added.

Aquino reiterated his call for the public to refrain from sharing rumors about fake rice. 

"We have also sought the assistance of rice retailers, the GRECON in the effort to assure the public that there is no fake rice circulating in the whole country," Aquino said. — LBG/VDS, GMA ews