Authorities have stepped up efforts to monitor rice supplies in the Kingdom and to stop the sale of adulterated and substandard rice.

“Inspectors from the Commerce Ministry confiscated a trailer full of adulterated rice with different labels of popular brands,” the Ministry of Commerce announced Sunday.

It said that the inspecting teams had followed a vehicle to a warehouse in the south of Riyadh, the main hub for distribution of substandard quality rice to various shops. “The rice is repacked with labels of popular brands,” the ministry said.

Abdullah Al-Zahrani of the Commerce Ministry told Arab News that the trailer had 1,000 bags containing 40 kg of rice each, or a total of 40 tons.

The warehouse which employs a large number of Arab nationals is known for such fraudulent activities and its owner is wanted by the authorities.

Al-Zahrani reiterated that the Commerce Ministry will act firmly against fraud and supply of substandard food products as they endanger public health and safety.

Prominent rice traders and importers in the Kingdom have been calling on the authorities for some time to crack down on people who fill bags using labels of popular brands with adulterated rice for public consumption.

Prominent rice trader Mohammed Shalan has demanded that authorities apply strict measures to curb this phenomenon. He said the practice is causing huge losses to owners of the genuine food products and importers.

The Commerce Ministry has urged the public to lodge complaints against any fraud in goods or food items by calling the toll free number 8001241616.