IN A bid to protect consumers from fake rice, the National Food Authority (NFA) Pampanga Branch conducted a random inspection among grains retailers at the old public market in San Fernando City.
NFA Provincial Manager Elvira Obaña led a team that swept through the public market where both commercial and NFA rice are being sold.
Government officials have warned the public about the bogus rice which is said to be a mixture of ground potato and resin, a chemical component of plastic. Ingestion of fake rice could render a person ill or may lead to death.
Obaña said as early as last month, the NFA has already been on the lookout against fake rice.
In Thursday’s inspection at the old public market, a grain retail store was found operating allegedly without the required NFA accreditation. The shop was warned to secure pertinent documents or face possible revocation of its business permits.
“We will coordinate with the local government unit concerned to revoke the permits of this retailer if it continued operating without our office’s accreditation,” Obaña said. (Press Release)