The fear of ‘plastic rice’ being sold in Cuttack city has panicked the residents as rumours spread following a report aired by a local private TV channel on Thursday. A similar report from remote district in Nuapada last week too had caused fear among people. The rumour, however, turned out to be false as the concerned authorities could not trace any such sample in the local market.
The Cuttack district authorities, when confronted on the report of plastic rice being traded in the city, suggested to wait as food inspectors are looking into the complaints. “Even though we have not received any specific complaint, we are aware of certain media reports and, accordingly, all main rice traders of the city are under scanner,” said District Civil Supplies Officer Amar Mohapatra.
The TV report said a family at Sheikh Bazaar of the city stumbled upon a well-polished white rice, which, when cooked, did not emanate any smell nor a single grain broke after it was fully cooked. A ball made up of the cooked rice also bounced when hit against a wall. What, however, surprised the family most was that the cooked rice did not foment even after a day, the report said.
“The authorities should immediately take note of such reports and raid the stocks of rice traders in the city to clear the air as soon as possible,” said Saroj Behera of Choudwar, adding that the rice godowns of the city cater to the food stuff need of several rural markets in the neighbourhood.