Misinformation Opens the Door to Low Quality Chinese Rice in Puerto Rico, But Consumers Are Rejecting It

ARLINGTON, VA – Last year Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas making it the wettest Atlantic hurricane ever measured.  It inflicted $125 billion in damage, and as we approach the one-year anniversary of the hurricane making landfall, its effects are actually still being felt.  An importer in Puerto Rico made waves recently when he switched his source for rice from the United States to China, falsely saying the hurricane had rendered U.S. rice contaminated.

Floodwater is considered contaminated and food that comes in contact with it is typically considered not fit for human consumption, however, that did not happen to the rice crop in Texas and Louisiana that was Harvey’s path.

“I want to make it clear that the FDA has not issued a ban on rice or any other food crops.  Rice grown in normal conditions and rice that has not been exposed to contaminated floodwaters from the recent hurricanes may enter commerce.  Also, rice and other crops that were harvested and stored safely before storms hit should not be considered impacted by these events,” said U.S. Food & Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on September 14, 2017.

“The FDA, Texas state officials, and the U.S. rice industry have rigorous food safety standards in place and, as always, made certain all U.S. rice entering the market last year was harvested and stored properly and is fit for human consumption,” said Betsy Ward President & CEO of USA Rice.  “To suggest our rice has somehow become contaminated is false, misleading, and possibly defamatory.”

Ward praised the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA) for working proactively last year to set the record straight on the rice crop and Hurricane Harvey and questioned the motives of the importer.

“Everyone in the industry knew there was no ban on U.S. rice; the decision to switch from U.S. to Chinese suppliers was more likely one motivated by price,” she said.  “But that decision is coming back to haunt them since Puerto Rican consumers are rejecting the low quality Chinese rice – subsidized by the Chinese government or not.”

Current Medium Grain importers by Puerto Rican Brands, Goya, Sello Rojo, and Mago, continue to import safe and high-quality U.S.-grown rice.