NAFDAC says no plastic, but contaminated rice in Nigeria

- NAFDAC discloses that tests on the suspected fake rice showed that the product is not plastic rice but contaminated with micro organisms

- The acting director general of NAFDAC, Yetunde Oni, says the seized rice is unsatisfactory and unwholesome for human consumption

- Oni urges the public to report suspicious cases about all NAFDAC regulated products to any of the offices across the nation for prompt regulatory action

NAFDAC has disclosed that the Best Tomato rice has no NAFDAC number, batch number, date markings, details of the manufacturer and is contaminated.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed reports about the circulation of plastic rice in Nigeria.

NAFDAC at a news conference in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Abuja on Thursday, December 29, said laboratory result of the suspected fake rice showed that the product was not plastic but rice contaminated with micro organisms.

The acting director general of NAFDAC, Yetunde Oni said the seized rice was unsatisfactory and therefore unwholesome for human consumption, The Punch reports.

She said the consignment would be destroyed upon handover by the NCS.

The NAFDAC boss explained that the product branded ”Best Tomato”, was in 25kg bag, without NAFDAC number, batch number, date markings and details of the manufacturer.

According to her, testing results on the product showed that floating’ was negative, sedimentation was positive, cooking was normal, odour was normal, colour was off-white and E-coli was within specification.

She added that lead and cadmium were not detected, pre-ashing was normal, ash, moisture and mould were within specification but coli form was above maximum limits.

Oni urged the public to report suspicious cases about all NAFDAC regulated products to any of the offices across the nation for prompt regulatory action.

The finding by NAFDAC on the contaminated rice comes days after the minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewole, denied the existence of plastic rice in Nigeria.

Article credit naij.com