The head of the provincial agriculture office has urged consumers to verify the variety of black rice they buy, amid growing fears over allegedly fake black rice being sold in Tagbilaran City.
Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog made the remarks during a phone interview with Ardy Araneta-Batoy over station DYTR while attending a Department of Agriculture (DA) strategic workshop.
Her comments followed a complaint from a consumer who claimed that the black rice he bought turned pink when washed and cooked.
“There are different varieties of black rice—some are glutinous like ‘tapol,’ and some behave like regular rice,” Quirog said. “It is possible for some black rice to lose its color when washed, depending on the grain’s genetic makeup.”
Quirog advised consumers to ask vendors whether the rice they are purchasing is a regular or glutinous type, noting that pigmentation loss can also occur naturally during washing, especially in varieties with less stable color compounds.
She said the presence of mixed white rice grains, or the potential use of artificial coloring, could also explain the fading.
Quirog cited the need for laboratory testing to determine if the rice was tampered with, noting that results of initial tests are still pending.
Quirog also cautioned against excessive washing, which could strip the rice of nutrients found in its bran layer.
She added that black and red rice varieties tend to be more nutritious than white rice due to their anthocyanin content, which acts as an antioxidant.
The DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have launched a joint investigation into reports of allegedly fake black rice sold near City Square Mall in downtown Tagbilaran. A kilo was reportedly priced at P100.
DTI said it is coordinating with the DA on the probe.
Black rice is considered a premium product due to its nutritional value and lower yield compared to white rice, which contributes to its higher market price.