Already Tested Laboratory, NFA Ensures SPHP Rice That Destroys Binjau Residents Due To Hoax Synthetics

Illustration of hard plastic rice after cooking. (Between/HO)

JAKARTA - The National Food Agency (NFA) as the Food Safety Competent Authority (OKKP) ensures that SPHP rice is not plastic after conducting tests at accredited food test laboratory. "The rice, which is suspected to be synthetic rice or plastic rice, is a hoax, so we can ensure that the SPHP rice circulating in the community is safe and has no impact on health," said Deputy for Diversity of Consumption and Food Safety NFA Andriko Noto Susanto in his statement in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, October 26. Andriko said that the testing of rice samples began with news in Binjai City, North Sumatra some time ago which stated that one of the residents found rice produced by SPHP rice milling like plastic balls. In response, OKKP conducted tests of rice samples suspected of being plastic rice including plastic profile testing and implemented tests in four parameters, namely physical tests, chemical tests, plastic profiles, and plasticizers. "Based on the four testing parameters, both rice samples from Bukittinggi City and SPHP rice samples from Binjai City were concluded to be negative for plastic. Both rice samples were physically destroyed, did not melt, and did not float. Chemically positive contained the star and both negative for plasticizer and plasticizer,” said Andriko. Andriko further emphasized that the guarantee of fresh food safety in circulation is one of the focuses of the authority of the National Food Agency as Central OKKP (OKKPP) together with the Food Service in all provinces and districts/cities as Regional OKKP (OKKPD) which continues to be carried out intensively in synergy with the food task force. The fulfillment of food safety and quality standards consists of residual pesticides, heavy metals, mykotoksin, and myrobiological contamination. Head of NFA Arief Prasetyo Adi emphasized that the issue of synthetic rice is prone to being blown amid the government's serious efforts to stabilize rice supply and prices by intensifying the Cheap Food Movement (GPM), rice food assistance, and Bulog market operations. For this reason, in addition to carrying out scientific testing actions on rice samples, Arief also asked the food task force to supervise and take action against parties who have been proven to be spreading hoax news about synthetic rice that has occurred recently.

"Now if there is synthetic rice, the investigative food task force and if it is proven guilty, it needs to be processed legally, so that people are calm and have clarity on this matter." Arief said.