‘Fake’ rice in Tanauan, Batangas tested and found to be real rice

Supposedly "fake" rice that was blamed for making a family in Tanauan City, Batangas sick has been confirmed as actually being real rice.

In a statement on its Facebook account on Tuesday, the Tanauan City government announced the result of laboratory tests done by the National Food Authority on the rice.

“Ang bigas po na may tatak na 'JM' ay tunay na commercial rice ayon sa resulta ng test na isinagawa ng NFA. Puwede na po itong ipagbili sa ating pamilihang bayan o public market,” the post read.

The post was accompanied by the NFA test findings signed by NFA regional director Tomas Escarez.

“Based on the foregoing results, it can be said that the subject samples of commercial rice taken from the complainant and the retail outlet are not fake,” Escarez said.

On July 4 a family of six in Tanauan City complained of stomach cramps after consuming the alleged fake rice.

One of the family members had to be brought to a medical facility for numbness, bouts of nausea and vomiting.

Due to this, the local government pulled out stocks of rice branded “JM Ricemill Inter City, Bocaue, Bulacan” from retailers and the market.

The NFA has been on alert since reports of alleged fake rice started in Davao City late June. — Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News