In Egypt, rice import samples are judged in the kitchen

Author:

Reuters

article author:

ID:

1554211146592970500

Tue, 2019-04-02 13:00

CAIRO/DUBAI: With steaming plates of rice and freshly sliced apples on the side, a group of Cairo-based food scientists work in their lab to decide whether the foreign grains will suit Egyptian palates.
The scientists cook and taste samples of rice on offer at state tenders before they are accepted. The process, which began late last year, has so far eliminated Indian origin rice and approved of Chinese and Vietnamese offers.
Egypt has spent $46.8 million on Chinese rice in two tenders since November. A third is ongoing.