Here are five ways to identify plastic rice from the real thing

The plastic rice scare has gripped Karnataka and other parts of the country as well. Many people found out that they have been eating plastic rice after they suffered a stomach ache and the rice balls were seen bouncing when thrown on the ground.

But here are five simple ways to identify the plastic rice:

1)    Burn it!: Take a handful of rice and with the help of matchstick or lighter put fire on the rice. If it gives out a strong smell of plastic burning, it is surely plastic rice. Please do not buy this.

2)    Cook a small quantity of rice and store it in a bottle. If even after three days the rice doesn’t have fungus, it is plastic rice for sure.

3)    Take a small quantity of rice and pour hot oil on it. If it is made of plastic, then it will burn.

4)    Put a teaspoon of rice in a bottle. Fill it with water and shake it. If the rice starts floating, then it is plastic rice. Because the real rice sinks and stays at the bottom.

5)    If you could do not want to try out any above-said measures at the shop, you can bring the rice home and start cooking a small quantity of rice. If there is a thick layer formed on top of the vessel, it is plastic rice.

6)    Another way people are trying after cooking the rice is by making a ball of cooked rice and throwing it on the ground or on the wall. If it bounces, then it is plastic rice.

Thus, before cooking the rice, please try any of these measures and make sure that you are not eating the plastic rice. Currently, in Karnataka, plastic rice was found in Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Chikkamagalur, Koppala, Hassan and Kolar.

Also Read: How did plastic rice make its way into Karnataka? Food safety just an illusion? [Video]

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