Mon, July 19, 2010
Over 90 percent of Thai fragrant rice in the Chinese market is estimated to be fake, Chongqing Economic Times reported Sunday.
"If we look at the total amount of fragrant rice grown in Thailand and the amount exported to China, we can see clearly most of such rice sold in China is fake product," Zhu Zhiwei, a researcher at the Ministry of Agriculture said.
Thai fragrant rice, a long-grain variety with a nutty aroma and a subtle flavor, is popular in China where rice is the traditional staple food.
With only 6 percent of Thailand's paddy fields suited to grow the fragrant rice, the price is pushed up by soaring demand and limited production, often double or even triple of that of China-grown rice.
This is the second in the series of rice scandals following fake rice said to be produced in Wuchang, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
CCTV revealed July 12 that grain firms used artificial additives to make common rice appear to be Wuchang rice. There are three ways to counterfeit the rice: mixing other varieties of Thai rice with the fragrant rice, selling "923 Rice" grown in Jiangxi Province as the fragrant rice or putting food additives in common rice, said a Shenzhen-based businessman surnamed Luo.
