Killer china rice: FHIN issues alert on

By Godwin Tyonongu Abuja Another can of worms has been opened by the Food Hygiene initiative Of Nigeria (FHIN) alerting the public that a brand of rice called plastic rice imported from China, has become a death trap to its consumers. FHIN in a statement issued in Abuja by the director-general, J.N Karimu, disclosed that the plastic rice had recently claimed 12 lives in Jos, plateu state, due to its poisonous nature, warning the public to beware of buying “anyhow” rice in the market.

Karimu who informed that such rice causes cancer of the blood and other dangerous diseases in the body, expressed the fear that, this festive period normally accompanied with profuse consumption of rice as the most commonest food item for celebration, may result to many falling victim the variety. On how to detect whether the rice sold in the market was plastic or not, he said, “it is by fetching water and pouring a little in a basin; if the rice is the genuine type, it will sink deep to the base of the basin; but if it’s a fake type, it would go up”. He advised relevant government agencies regulating the import of food items in the country to always examine the product well before importing it to the country.

“FHIN already have its offi cers on ground across the country; they are in the markets, streets, educating the public, creating awareness, sensitizing the public to be careful on such rice consumed. “Recently we had a campaign in Kubwa, Abuja on the food item and poisoning, we educated them and enlightened them, especially this time that food is hard to get;NAFDAC is trying but some bad people are bent on spoiling their eff orts but together we shall collaborate to stem the tide”, he noted.

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