No Fake Rice in Western Visayas — NFA

Iloilo City (PNA) — The National Food Authority (NFA) has allayed fears on the presence of fake and synthetic rice in markets of Western Visayas, particularly in this city and province of Iloilo.

Erma Abello, NFA provincial manager, said that Iloilo is a surplus rice producing area in the region and the source of stable cereal in all parts of the region. There is no reason for the proliferation of synthetic rice here, according to the NFA official.

The NFA is warning rice consumers to be vigilant against the fake rice discovered in Davao City last month as an alternative aimed at reducing rice intake.

Abello assured they intensified monitoring of rice movements and even demanded shipping permits from the source of rice. Errant traders will be prosecuted accordingly and punished for possible economic sabotage and rice smuggling.

The fake rice discovered in Davao contained the chemical Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) which is banned in the production of cosmetics and toys due to its hazardous effect on the human body.

The alternative rice is easily detected due to its uniform shining shape covered by a plastic coating. Its contents are mostly potatoes, sweet potatoes and yam.

Continuous eating for three months is harmful to the body and the DBP has the ability to cause allergic reaction with anaphylactic shock where low blood pressure and breathing difficulties may result in death. (PNA) CTB/LCP/VLO