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Nigeria denies 'plastic rice' reports | Nigeria denies 'plastic rice' reports |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Nigeria's government has denied reports that "plastic rice" was being sold in the country, days after the customs service said 2.5 tonnes of the contraband had been confiscated. | Nigeria's government has denied reports that "plastic rice" was being sold in the country, days after the customs service said 2.5 tonnes of the contraband had been confiscated. |
Health Minister Isaac Adewole tweeted that tests by the food safety agency found "no evidence" of plastic material. | Health Minister Isaac Adewole tweeted that tests by the food safety agency found "no evidence" of plastic material. |
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said on Wednesday the fake rice was intended to be sold during the festive season. | |
Rice is Nigeria's staple food. | Rice is Nigeria's staple food. |
Mr Mamudu has not commented on the health minister's statement. | Mr Mamudu has not commented on the health minister's statement. |
Africa Live: More on this and other stories | Africa Live: More on this and other stories |
It is not clear where the 102 seized sacks of rice came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year. | |
Mr Adewole said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", urging Nigerians to remain calm. | Mr Adewole said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", urging Nigerians to remain calm. |
The BBC's Stephanie Hegarty in Lagos says the results are to be released next week. | |
Mr Mamudu had said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it. | Mr Mamudu had said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it. |
The BBC's Martin Patience in Lagos, who felt the rice, said it looked real but had a faint chemical odour. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Lagos, who felt the rice, said it looked real but had a faint chemical odour. |
The Lagos customs chief had called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity. | The Lagos customs chief had called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity. |
Is the rice still on sale in the markets? | |
We haven't heard any reports that the rice is still on sale in markets. Customs officials were investigating but as of now have found nothing. | |
Nigeria's custom officials say they seized a total of 102 sacks, each containing 25kg (55lb), branded "Best Tomato Rice". | |
It is, however, unclear how many bags had been sold, if at all, and if there are other forms of contraband in the market. | |
Has anyone eaten it? | |
We haven't heard of any members of the public eating it. | |
Customs officials cooked the rice and said that the texture was very gummy and it smelled odd, they refused to eat it. | |
When asked the same question on Twitter, Health Minister Isaac Adewole joked that no, he wouldn't eat it without salt. | |
An unverified video of the rice being cooked has been shared on social media. | |
In it the cook says the rice catches fire and sticks on the pan. | |
How worried are Nigerians? | |
Very worried. There have been several media reports warning the public about fake foodstuffs especially from China and their potential dangers. | |
Speaking to the BBC's World Have Your Say programme Ibrahim, from Kano State, said selling fake rice was wickedness of the highest order. | |
How could there be such a disagreement between the customs service and health ministry? | |
Customs officials did say that they were awaiting tests by Nafdac, the food standard agency, before they could confirm what the rice was made of. | |
They suggested they would accept the results of those tests. | |
However, a customs agent did tell the BBC that he doubted that Nafdac had tested the same sample that his colleagues had cooked. | |
He insisted that the texture of the rice was like nothing he had seen before. | |
It is possible that this is a different type of rice that they weren't familiar with. | |
It is also possible that the Ministry of Health is making an effort to avoid public hysteria in the run-up to Christmas. | |
Whatever the results announced next week, the BBC's Stephanie Hegharty says many people will question them. |