mardi 3 janvier 2017

Poisoning the World

Nigeria seized China's toxic rice unfit for human consumption

Nigeria caused quite the stir last month after seizing over 102 bags of contaminated rice that had been shipped over from China. 
Following tests, Nigeria's National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said that the rice was "contaminated with micro-organisms above the permissible limit" and unfit for human consumption, according to Nigeria Today.
Nigerian authorities also warned of "several metric tonnes of expired and dangerous rice" that were waiting in warehouses in neighboring countries to be smuggled into Nigeria, and announced that customs would be on high-alert for any imported grains.
Officials have not said where the 102 bags of contaminated rice came from. 
When they were seized in Lagos, a customs officer said that he suspected they had been smuggled in from China.
“Before now, I thought it was a rumour that the plastic rice is all over the country but with this seizure, I have been totally convinced that such rice exists,” a local customs controller told the Nigerian Observer at the time. 
"We have done a preliminary analysis of the plastic rice. After boiling, it was sticky and only God knows what would have happened if people consumed it."
BBC reporter Martin Patience also inspected the rice and said it had "a faint chemical odor."
Last year, plastic rice sold on the Chinese market found its way into various Asian countries, including India, Indonesia and Vietnam. 
While it appeared similar to actual rice, it was actually made from mixing potatoes, sweet potatoes and synthetic resin. 
Health experts warned that the fake grains could cause serious damage to the digestive system if consumed.

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