Andhra Pradesh reels under alleged sale of plastic rice

As rumours of sale of plastic rise turn into fear in the heritage city of Hyderabad, people have become skeptical about the quality of life in the city. The rumour blew out of proportion after a man discovered plastic rise being used at a Biriyani point in Hyderabad. Another person from Meerpet approached the police saying that the rice that he bought from a grocery shop was plastic rice. That very evening, the task force officials raided the shop in Meerpet and seized rice bags, samples of which have been sent for examination. 

It all started when social media platforms like Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook spread news of plastic rice being sold at various stores in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Call it the effect of panic or reality, a man from Telangana complained that he and his family members were suffering from various ailments like stomach ache and body ache. They found that the rice that was being used at home was plastic rice, which was mashable and inedible. 

The state departments have, however, upped their guards against rice adulteration by forming special enforcement teams. Srinivasa Rao, W&M assistant food controller, told TOI said, "We also came to know about plastic or fake rice through media and social networking sites. We have not received any instructions from our higher-ups so far on this issue, but locally I am sending four food inspectors to check rice with the main rice traders in Visakhapatnam."

They, however say that they have come across cases of adulteration of red gram and other commodities. In other words, the food department is taking every complaint seriously under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Rice traders, however, say that the sale of plastic rice is only a rumour. One of them said, "There is no sale of such plastic rice in the city. By God's grace, Andhra Pradesh does not have any rice shortage to leave space for fake or plastic rice."

• andhra pradesh
• rice