MANILA, Philippines - National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Arthur O. Juan assures the public that NFA rice sold in local markets is safe for human consumption based on tests conducted by the Food Development Center (FDC).
This assurance comes in the wake of reports that imported rice or commercial rice may contain high levels of arsenic.
Alerted by the report, Juan has instructed all NFA field officials to collect samples in the markets, not only of NFA rice but also commercial rice, for testing at the agency’s laboratories.
The FDC tested over the weekend samples of commercial, imported and NFA rice and found all of them fit for human consumption.
The FDC is the official laboratory of the Department of Agriculture for the analysis of contaminants in agricultural, fisheries and food products to insure safety and proper food handling. It periodically conducts tests on NFA and commercial rice to ensure that it meets the standards of health and safety.
Juan said that government rice importation follows a clear and specific protocol where the contract requires that an assigned surveyor would conduct inspection of the stocks prior to shipping, as well as upon discharge at the designated Philippine ports to ensure that these stocks are safe and meet all the required technical and safety standards.
Aside from the surveyor for imported rice stocks, the NFA laboratories, based in all its regional offices, also continuously conduct testing of the agency’s rice samples to protect the integrity of the government stocks and constantly ensure its safety and palatability.