As Christmas draws close, a lot of people will be getting bags of rice from their employers, friends and well-wishers.
But many reports have been made about plastic rice flooding the market. Although the claims have been denied several times by Nigerian authorities, Here are some tips on how to spot plastic rice and avoid eating it.
You can determine if your rice is fake by carrying out any of the simple tests below.
1. The fire test
You know what plastic smells like right. So, get a lighter and burn a handful of rice. If it catches fire and smells like burnt plastic, you have fake rice.
2. The water test
Get a glass of cold water. Pour a tablespoon of raw rice in the glass and stir. If the rice goes to the bottom, it is all good. If it floats at the top, be careful because it means it contains ‘plastic rice’. Do not eat.
3. The mold test
Boil the rice. Leave it in a warm place for like 2-3 days. If mold does not appear in a few days, your rice is fake and should not be consumed. It will not get mold because plastic is not affected by the weather or temperature.
6. The boiling test
Observe the rice while boiling. If it starts forming a thick layer at the top of the pot, it is ‘plastic rice’.
5. The hot oil test
Just take some of the rice drop into some real hot oil. If it is plastic, it will melt or stick together or stick at the bottom of the pan.
