Preliminary Test Results say Rice Intercepted in Lagos is not Plastic Rice – Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole on Thursday said that preliminary tests conducted by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed that there is no evidence backing the claim that the bags of rice seized in Ikeja, Lagos by Customs officials are the infamous plastic rice.

Adewole made this known via Twitter. He said.

I have just been briefed by DG NAFDAC on Plastic Rice reports. Preliminary test results reveal there is no evidence backing claims.

Tests conducted; floating – negative, cooking – normal, odour normal, color – off white rice grains, moisture – 13.0, pre-ashing – normal.

NAFDAC will release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations. We urge all Nigerians to remain calm for now.

The Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday intercepted 102 bags of the said rice branded “Beat Tomato Rice’’ with no date of manufacture.

The Customs Area Controller of  F.O.U. Comptroller Mohammed Haruna, had revealed this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

He had said that the commodity was stored for distribution as Yuletide gifts for the public.

Haruna had said that officers of the unit intercepted the rice along the Ikeja area of Lagos, adding that a suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.