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Synthetic rice expensive to make: Official
Health Ministry secretary-general Untung Suseno Sutarjo has expressed puzzlement over reports of synthetic rice being sold at local markets as he presumed it would be expensive to make
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ealth Ministry secretary-general Untung Suseno Sutarjo has expressed puzzlement over reports of synthetic rice being sold at local markets as he presumed it would be expensive to make.
'It would be expensive to make that kind of synthetic rice,' he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
He also said he was waiting for the results of sample testing conducted by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM).
'We don't know anything yet. Usually the BPOM meets with us to coordinate on these issues,' he said.
He claimed that if counterfeit rice was being sold locally, those who consumed it would not be able to digest it and its chemical compounds would cause health problems.
A congee seller in Mustika Jaya subdistrict in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, reported finding synthetic rice to the BPOM after she uploaded pictures of it on social media.
Rice sample were subsequently taken by the agency and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The Bekasi Trade Agency took rice samples from seven traditional markets on Wednesday, following a report of plastic rice being sold in a store in Mutiara Gading Market, East Bekasi, West Java.
The Jakarta Police also made an impromptu visit to the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market in East Jakarta, but found no synthetic rice. (fsu)(++++)
