The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has dismissed claims of the existence of plastic rice in the country. KEBS Managing Director Evans Ongwae says their market surveillance team embarked on efforts to ascertain whether the claims were true, but after conducting several surveys and collecting samples, no plastic rice was found.
Ongwae said that tests as per the East Africa and Kenya Standards was conducted on all samples of rice in the country, affirming that rice currently in the Kenyan market was safe for human consumption.
“There is no basis for the said allegations. The video circulating on social media shows a common process often conducted by manufacturers when recycling plastic materials. Through it, used plastic products are recycled and converted into pellets, which can then be re-used to produce various plastic products.” Ongwae said.
“All imports are tested in the country of origin under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme. All imports including rice are to be accompanied with Certificates of Conformity (CoCs) when they arrive in the country,” the Managing Director added.
Ongwae said a certificate of conformity given is a confirmation that all imports have been inspected against the relevant standards.
“Products that do not meet these requirements are issued with Non-Conformity Reports (NCR) and are rejected and not allowed to be exported to Kenya,” Mr Ongwae said.
KEBS response comes after concerns by members of the public over an online video that went viral on social media last week demonstrating inorganic rice product.
“KEBS has requested those making the claims on plastic rice on social media and other media to provide information on the source or location of those dealing or retailing plastic rice. None has provided any information so far,” Ongwae said.
Kwani nyumbani tuko nyuma…
Kwani nyumbani tuko nyuma aje?The said video has been in circulation for more than four years now.
When you chew small amount…
When you chew small amount of cooked rice it will mix with saliva and turned into a liquid form. Plastic cooked rice cannot mix with saliva. If you cook plastic rice it will melt at a certain point.
This story reminds me of…
This story reminds me of Kenyans Being Deported From Rwanda because of Their Plastic Smiles; meaning Fake Smile. Mkenya ANAKUTABASAMIA kumbe Ana Zake mbovu.
it is said that a skilled…
it is said that a skilled sales person can sell a bucket of snow to an eskimo…nothing will stop crooks from making a buck dubiously…thats us assuming there is really plastic pellets going around.but the two comments above are on spot.even a blind man can tell real rise from plastic
Too much dependence on…
Too much dependence on foreigners can lead to the current state of affairs when we have to import basic commodities (sugar, rice, maize) that can be provided by the Kenyan farmers and politicians working together.
Although we are ashamed of our culture, we should realize that everybody else glorifies their culture and they are not ashamed of imposing it to you without your knowledge. I believe it was probably last year when a Chinese restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya was serving dog meat!
Let us change the way we think and Kenya will once more forge a prosperous path to self sufficiency by providing her citizens the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing.
there has to be a deliberate…
there has to be a deliberate effort to advance African culture.yes we should be proud of ourselves and we look stupid and clueless copycats where we try to embraced aforegn culture.case I. point is skin lightening…why are some of us not proud of our skin.or straightening hair.we have great and world beaters athletes.have you overseen mzungu nicknaming himself kamworor or kipchoge?
Straightening hair make it…
Straightening hair make it manageable. afro is painful to comb and unmanageable
When you make it short, its…
When you make it short, its pretty manageable…Besides that, extenders are also employed so that hair could look long like mzungus. Curly hair could be made manageable for sure,without it looking like a mzungus…
You want Kenyans to eat Dogs…
You want Kenyans to eat Dogs hata wewe .I remember watching Survivor in one of the past épisodes where someone beheaded a snake , roasted and ate it. Crocodile meat is eaten in Louisiana so are frogs. Try telling the Turkana to eat crocs from Lake Turkana or the akamba people who are forever starving to feast on snakes . Africans or should I say Kenyans choose what we want to ape from the west when it comes to food hatufanani .
How about looking at it from…
How about looking at it from the scientific/nutritional/point. Sure, you dont just acquire taste for snakes at one sitting.But hunger might accelerate the taste time.I see no problem diversifying.People frown when I tell them that termites/white ants are a delicacy…
Truthfully, if another human being can eat it without getting sick,all of us can do it too. Takes just getting used to,apart from being curious,and mighty starving…