“Real rice” vs “fake rice”. Photo: Instagram/@dewinurizza
You’ve probably heard that people are freaking out about the scourge of “plastic rice” being secretly inserted into our nasi supplies. While it started off as a scary rumor, laboratory testing showed that plastic rice (specifically rice mixed with a material similar to polyvinyl) was in fact being sold in at least one traditional market in the satellite city of Bekasi.
But fear not, fellow Jakartans. Our governor, Basuki “Ahok” Purnama Tjahaja, has promised us that he would make sure that plastic rice is not sold in Jakarta, at least in the traditional markets that are under the management of state-owned PD Pasar Jaya.
Ahok also said that he has instructed the Department of Cooperative Micro Small Medium Enterprises Trade (KUMKMP) to conduct raids and checks on rice at markets throughout Jakarta.
“We are already sure that, at all of the markets run by PD Pasar Jaya in Jakarta, [the fake[ rice is not being sold. We have already checked all of the rice sold through PD Pasar Jaya and it does not contain [plastic],” Ahok said at City Hall on Monday as quoted by Kompas.
The Jakarta Government has also been working with the National Agency for Food and Drugs (BPOM) to perform tests and laboratory test on rice sold in Jakarta.
“We’ve agreed, if we catch any merchants selling [plastic] rice, we will expel them from our markets,” Ahok said..
