NFA Bicol officials eat fumigated rice, say it's safe for human consumption

Bicol-based National Food Authority officials based helped themselves to some cooked rice from stock that had undergone fumigation due to insect infestation to prove that it is safe to eat.

A report by Tina Panganiban Perez in "24 Oras" on Friday evening showed the officials conducting a palatability test, where they tested the smell and taste of the rice.

"Para maipakita natin sa taumbayan, sa mga kababayan nating pilipino na yung bigas na na-fumigate na yun, ay very safe at saka healthy sa katawan natin," said NFA Bicol Director Henry Tristeza.

Some 177,000 sacks of NFA rice underwent fumigation after months of sitting idle on a ship stranded in Tabaco Port in Albay due to the bad weather.

Because the stock was infested with weevils, many expressed concern if the rice is still safe for human consumption. 

NFA Bicol assured consumers that there is no cause for concern.

However, there are still sacks of NFA rice that are yet to be unloaded from the ship.

"Pagka gumanda na yung panahon eh ia-unload na natin and then idi-distribute na natin sa anim na probinsya ng region 5," Tristeza said. —Jessica Bartolome/LBG, GMA News