Health officials have uncovered three containers of imported rice, totaling approximately 75,000 kilograms, deemed unfit for human consumption. This discovery comes in the wake of the government’s decision to permit rice imports to stabilize domestic supply and prices.
Investigations revealed that one of the containers had its expiry date fraudulently altered, while the other two contained rice that had spoiled during transit. The Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health is conducting thorough quality assessments to determine the extent of contamination and ensure food safety measures are upheld.
Since the reopening of rice imports, approximately 2,400 metric tons of rice have entered the country. Alarmingly, around 90% of this stock has already been cleared through customs and released into the market, raising concerns about the potential distribution of substandard rice to consumers.
Authorities are now scrutinizing the supply chain to identify accountability for the compromised shipments. Stricter monitoring and enhanced quality checks have been called for to prevent future incidents and safeguard public health. Consumers are urged to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding rice quality.
