Fake pink rice-racket nabbed!

A racket whereby red rice produced for local use is mixed with a rose-coloured coloring or dye not fit for human use by thus making it very attractive is being marketed and was raided by the Consumer Services Authority.  This type of rice which is supposed to be kept for sale at major cities in the plantation areas has been
popularized as 'Kikko' Red Rice. 

Red rice which is bought over from farmers in areas such as Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Samanthurai and Amparai are brought to rice mills and after being husked, this particular dye is added, it was reported. After the colouring is used, the rice takes on an attractive hue and at first appearance the rice looks alluring and therefore it tends to have a good market. 

The rice which is bought in this manner when washed at home, that red rice turns into a deep red, it was learned. Customers had developed a strong liking to buy this rice which was sold at the market for a price of Rs. 70 per kilo because at first appearance the rice was so attractive. What Mr. Wimalasiri Ilukkumbura, Chief of the Nuwara Eliya Consumer Services Authority  said was, that marketing this kind of rice subjected to colouring is totally prohibited from being marketed. He also mentioned that legal action has been filed in courts against several traders who marketed such rice and imposed fines have been imposed while several rice-samples with this same colouring used have been directed to the Government Analyst to obtain his report in that connection.

(Ranjith Rajapaksha -- Hatton)