NETFLY Trading Co. Ltd official Ben Shu assures that general public both in Honiara and in the province that they did not sell fake rice as claimed by some people in the media.
Rice consumers claimed that they discovered a plastic like substances in a Mamie rice bag sold in Auki.
It was also stated that the grain is brown in color and is totally different from the white grain.
Shu said as one of the wholesale rice distributor in the country they only import and distribute quality rice which termed as ‘fortified rice’.
According to World Health Organisation recommendation fortification of rice with iron is recommended as a public health strategy to improve the iron status of populations, in settings where rice is a staple food.
WHO also stated that fortification of rice with vitamin A may be used as a public health strategy to improve the iron status and vitamin A nutrition of populations.
Fortification of rice with folic acid may be used as a public health strategy to improve the folate nutritional status of populations.
Shu told this paper that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services are aware of this and they worked closely with all the rice importer companies in the country to make sure they ordered quality for people’s consumption.
Also according to MHMS Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil fortified rice will help prevent the adverse effects of nutritional deficiencies such as impaired cognitive development, low immunity and birth defects of spine and brain.
She further confirmed that largest rice importer in the country – SolRice has commenced the import and distribution of fortified rice.
Meanwhile, Shu call on SolRice as the main rice importer in the country to try as much as possible to make more awareness in the rural areas in particular to inform them about this imported rice product.
By ANDREW FANASIA
