AGARTALA, June 18 (TIWN): After Maggi controversy has hit the entire nation, the left rule state has now come up with non-edible rice controversy.

Recently, a section of shopkeepers are alleged of selling non-edible rice in the market which is mostly coated with “wax”.

Reportedly, even after undergoing the threshing process, rice have their natural fiber or husk intact. When this particular rice undergoes the polishing process, the husk gets removed to make the rice grains look a lot more attractive and shining with the help of wax coat. Due to the process of polishing, the natural fiber that is essential for good health is removed from the grain and an extra plastic shine is added to the rice.

During the polishing process, colors, oils and soapstone powders are used to make the rice grain look shiny and radiant. Soapstone powders are extremely harmful for the intestines and the Oil polish adds unnecessary extra fat to the pulses. The water used in the polishing process is unsafe as the source is not known.

It has been alleged that some retailers sold old stock by re-polishing to make it look like new stock.

As per report, shiny looking polished rice, which are commonly available at nearby store may have gone through different form of polishing using water, oil or even leather thus deteriorating  the quality of rice in terms of added moisture content and protein depletion. 

Talking to TIWN Correspondent, R.K. Noatia Joint Director for Department of food civil supplies and consumer affairs said that the rice grain which is available at the Ration shop for the public is “safe”.

Acting on this issue of selling non-edible rice in the market, the Department of food civil supplies and consumer affairs has tested the rice grain in their laboratory and found that the rice grain available in the ration shop is safe and are purely edible and has claimed that the rice available in the ration shop are safe for the consumption of the people.

However, Health and family welfare department has taken an initiative to look after the issue of “non-edible rice controversy” and has asked the concerned authority to collect the sample of rice available in the market and to do the laboratory tasting of the rice as early as possible.

The rice sample will be examined under Food and Standard act of 2006. It is further said that by the authority proper action will taken if found guilty of this issue.

On the other hand where the message of selling non-edible rice has ran high SDM Manik lal Das is completely unaware of this issue.

Only time can say, when the laboratory test of rice will be done and what action will be taken by the authority.