As per the Food Analyst report, microscopic examination of rice kernels showed clusters of rice starch of oryza sativa species (natural rice origin) and do not show any form of adulterant (plastic) mixture as alleged in the recent viral video on social media.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent
Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Food Safety, Amardeep Singh Bhatia, on Monday issued a statement on the alleged plastic rice which was collected and sent for testing to the State Public Health Laboratory by Food Safety Officer (FSO), Dimapur.
Bhatia said that as per the Food Analyst report, the rice sample was tested indicated presence of fortificants in the rice confirming the rice as fortified rice and added that microscopic examination of rice kernels showed clusters of rice starch of oryza sativa species (natural rice origin) and do not show any form of adulterant (plastic) mixture as alleged in the recent viral video on social media.
He also mentioned that the tested rice sample as per the standardized parameters was within the prescribed limit under Regulation No.2.4.6: (24) of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additives) regulations 2011.
He informed that the fortification of food is standardized and operationalized under Food Safety & Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2017 and rice can be fortified using dusting, coating
or extrusion technology where the milled broken rice is pulverized and mixed with vitamins and minerals resulting in fortified rice kernels (Section 4.4 of Guidebook on Food Fortification, FASSAI).
Bhatia also said that under the Food Safety & Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2017, every package of fortified food shall carry the words “fortified with….(name of the fortification” and the logo (Plus F) as specified in Schedule II of the Regulations on the label.