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Nigerian officials row over 'plastic rice' | Nigerian officials row over 'plastic rice' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Nigeria's food safety agency has denied claims by the health minister that it has cleared the reported "plastic" rice. | Nigeria's food safety agency has denied claims by the health minister that it has cleared the reported "plastic" rice. |
A senior official at the National Agency For Food and Drugs (Nafdac) said the minister's Twitter statement "is not their position". | A senior official at the National Agency For Food and Drugs (Nafdac) said the minister's Twitter statement "is not their position". |
Health Minister Isaac Adewole had tweeted that tests by the agency found "no evidence" of plastic material. | Health Minister Isaac Adewole had tweeted that tests by the agency found "no evidence" of plastic material. |
About 2.5 tonnes of the "plastic" rice has been confiscated. | About 2.5 tonnes of the "plastic" rice has been confiscated. |
Rice is Nigeria's staple food and it is a tradition for people to give bags of rice as a gift during the Christmas period. | |
Africa Live: More on this and other stories | Africa Live: More on this and other stories |
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said on Wednesday the fake rice was intended to be sold during the festive season but has not commented on the health minister's statement. | Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said on Wednesday the fake rice was intended to be sold during the festive season but has not commented on the health minister's statement. |
The official at Nafdac told the BBC's Stephanie Hegarty that the tests were still ongoing: | The official at Nafdac told the BBC's Stephanie Hegarty that the tests were still ongoing: |
"We are not done with comprehensive tests. We are still in the laboratory. We haven't concluded analysis and it is not something we can conclude in two days." | "We are not done with comprehensive tests. We are still in the laboratory. We haven't concluded analysis and it is not something we can conclude in two days." |
"We are yet to conclude the chemical and biological analysis," he added. | "We are yet to conclude the chemical and biological analysis," he added. |
Mr Adewole had said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", adding that Nigerians should remain calm. | Mr Adewole had said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", adding that Nigerians should remain calm. |
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. | 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 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? | 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. | 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". | 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 any, and if there are other forms of contraband in the market. | It is, however, unclear how many bags had been sold, if any, and if there are other forms of contraband in the market. |
Has anyone eaten it? | Has anyone eaten it? |
We haven't heard of any members of the public eating 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | In it the cook says the rice catches fire and sticks on the pan. |
How worried are Nigerians? | 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. | 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. | 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 different Nigerian officials? | How could there be such a disagreement between different Nigerian officials? |
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. | 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. | They suggested they would accept the results of those tests. |
However, a customs agent told the BBC that the texture of the rice was like nothing he had seen before. | However, a customs agent told the BBC 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 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. | It is also possible that the Ministry of Health is making an effort to avoid public hysteria in the run-up to Christmas. |