Sale of artificial matta rice by changing colour of ration rice becoming widespread; red oxide and calcium carbonate used to change colour of rice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sale of artificial Matta rice by changing the colour of ration rice is becoming widespread in Kerala. This is due to the rise in the price of rice in the general market. While red oxide is added to matta rice, calcium carbonate is added to white rice to change its colour. These are harmful to health.

Based on the information received by Minister GR Anil, the vigilance department conducted an inspection and found adulteration in rice. Following this, the minister directed civil supplies and legal metrology officials to conduct inspections in shops and ration shops in collaboration with the food safety department.

Duplicate and coloured rice took over the market after the price of Kerala's own Matta rice and Andhra white rice sold under the name Jaya rose to Rs 60 per kg.

One can confirm that the rice is adulterated if it loses its colour when one takes some rice with wet hands and rubs it well.

Trafficking of ration rice

1. Rice, which costs Rs 1 per kg in Tamil Nadu, will be collected from ration shop owners and middlemen.

2. Ration rice in Kerala will be delivered to secret centres from the ration godowns and ration shops.

Duplicate for Matta and Jaya
1. Fake Matta rice is made by buying paddy from Shimoga in Karnataka at the rate of Rs.19 per kg and delivering it to the mills here. The original matta is cultivated in Palakkad and Alappuzha.
2 The parboiled rice (Puzhukkalari) from Punjab is being sold under the name Jaya. Rice, which costs Rs 30 per kg in Punjab, is sold at Rs 50-55 in Kerala. The original Jaya rice is cultivated in the Godavari region of Andhra.