The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) have ordered an investigation into whether plastic rice and cabbage has arrived in the Bhutanese market as publicized through videos and pictures on social media.
BAFRA Director General Namgay Wangchuk said that though a video on Bhutanese coming across plastic cabbage had gone viral nobody formally complained to the department.
He said that whoever may have encountered plastic food should inform BAFRA instead of making a video clip and posting it on social media and creating anxiety.
“We will carry out investigation and find out,” Namgay Wangchuk said. He added that the department would investigate the video and trace the person who took to social media to spread fear of plastic food items being sold on a large-scale.
From BAFRA’s side he said they are unable to ascertain and cannot say that such plastic food have arrived in the country.
Namgay Wangchuk said BAFRA enforcement officials will conduct tests on rice coming from across the border and will form a special enforcement team to keep a tab on adulterated rice and vegetables.
The Director General said that the food adulteration issue has been discussed with Indian counterparts who are equally mindful and vigilant on the issue.
He said that it is very unusual that such low value food items like cabbage are being adulterated and BAFRA is unable to comprehend on why people mix plastic.
“As of now we have neither received complains nor found any instances of plastic rice, eggs, sugar and cabbage being sold in the markets,” Namgay Wangchuk said adding that people should register a complaint to the nearest BAFRA office if they encounter such products.
