Quality is a powerful engine in the food value chain upgrading in developing countries. In response to consumer heterogeneity, the rice industry tends to supply a wide range of quality classes, from poor- to good- to high-quality rice, tailored to different market segments.
How would you react to the question, are you buying the right rice? This question is pertinent as focus increasingly shifts to the quality and hygienic condition of rice as a guiding factor when purchasing it.
When you purchase rice, your objective is to buy healthy rice. Healthy rice is safe to consume but the experts say the consumer needs to consider a few factors, especially when buying loose from open markets and nearby stores.
The plethora of rice brands in the market has offered consumers a variety of choices. More than the challenge of identifying the rice is to identify the right quality.
Some are sold in loose form as seen in basins and loose containers while others are packaged. The form of presentation whether loose or packaged in the trade impacts negatively or positively on the quality of rice.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday , Mr Alimi Adamu, a rice processing expert, said: “When rice is sold in the loose form, a lot of factors affect it negatively.
“Firstly, the ageing of rice in a loose form which can affect its physical and chemical properties and in turn its quality is a major consideration. Different rice brands have expiry dates that buyers of the commodities in cups, plastic containers and basins of various sizes are not aware of because it has been removed from the bags.
“It is therefore possible that many consumers buy rice that has expired, with the very high risk of consuming unwholesome products whose quality cannot be guaranteed and are therefore not safe for human consumption.”
He said another factor is the condition of the local market where rice is sold in. “When sold in the open market in loose form, there are very high chances of cross-contamination by other food items like meat, vegetable, fruits, corn etc as all items are sold near each other. The rice can be contaminated by stone, dust, husk and other foreign matters thereby impacting the quality.
“It can also be exposed to micro-organisms, rodents, insects and other disease-causing pathogens. While some of these contaminants may be removed during washing at home, not all of them may be removed. In recent times, where the scare of diseases has heightened, these factors are worth considering.”
He argued that displaying rice in open containers that are not hygienic and on floors is very inimical to human health.
In Nigeria, the World Health Organisation(WHO) estimates that more than 200,000 people die of food poisoning yearly from food-borne pathogens (especially Escherichia coli and Salmonella). These deaths are caused by contaminated foods through improper storage, processing, preservation, and handling.
He said: “When rice is sold loose, the consumer will be left second-guessing the brand and may not be able to make informed choices. The unsuspecting consumer is also vulnerable to retailers who may want to capitalize on this to sell low-quality rice for the price of high-quality rice. “
Rice manufacturers take all necessary precautions to ensure quality and safety but exposure or loose rice at the market by retailers can compromise quality.
Citing an example, he said: “Big Bull Rice is premium quality Parboiled rice, totally made in Nigeria. It is sortex cleaned; stone-free and has a high swelling index. The production of Big Bull Rice goes through extreme measures to ensure safety. When you eat Big Bull Rice, you can be assured of the great lengths taken to ensure your health is safe.”
He said, to ensure that the interest of low-income earners is accommodated in the packaging, it has been introduced at pocket-friendly prices for each consumer – in packs as small as 750g and 2.25kg so that everyone has access to quality rice without worrying about other irritants. Consumers need not worry about contamination and be assured of the original Big Bull quality.
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