First of all, you should know (or you probably already know) that we all need to watch what we eat. Because what we eat has an impact on our health in general. Well yes, and we also know that we shouldn’t consume too much fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Sometimes, we read the ingredients label and try to make healthy food choices.

But, ladies and gentlemen, have you heard the latest news? Yes, there is a scary trend coming out of China – they are apparently making rice out of plastic! First of all, plastic is not part of any diet! According to the officials, the fake rice substitute is made from sweet potatoes, potatoes, and a synthetic resin (aka plastic). When the ingredients mix, they form grains that resemble rice. It is then sprayed with a chemical fragrance to make it smell like an expensive brand of rice called Wuchang rice.

And, you should be very careful, because it is really hard to tell the difference between the actual rice and plastic rice. The fake rice isn’t being sold in the U.S., but it is in other countries.

Here are some tips on how you can be sure your rice is the real deal:

• Just soak your rice in water – real rice will sink in a glass of water, and fake rice will float.
• Or, you can put cooked rice on the counter for several days, if it molds it is real – if no mold forms, it is not real rice.
• When you cook your rice, if you notice a thick layer on top of the water, it is probably the fake rice.
• A flame held by fake rice will emit a plastic aroma, and it will burn like plastic would.