PARBOILED RICE
WHY IN NEWS ?
- According to reports, India is considering extending duty restrictions to exports of non-basmati parboiled rice.
MORE ABOUT THE NEWS:
- The government is exploring to impose a 20% duty on non-basmati parboiled rice exports, while an MEP of around $1,250 per tonne could be levied on basmati rice.
- Prices of parboiled rice have risen 19% since April in the domestic market and 26% in the international marke.
- The export quantity and value of the rice variety shot up 21% and more than 35%, respectively.
- Currently, all-India average retail parboiled rice is available at ₹37-38 a kg and ₹92-93 for basmati rice.
WHAT IS PARBOILED RICE ?
- Parboiled rice, also known as converted rice, is a partially precooked rice that has been common is Asian and African countries for a number of years.
- Parboiling happens when you soak, steam, and dry rice while it’s still in its inedible outer husk.
- This turns the rice inside a slightly yellow hue.
- Parboiling rice makes it easier to remove the husk of the rice before eating it.
- The process also improves the texture of the rice, making it fluffier and less sticky when you cook it than regular white rice.
- The three basic steps of parboiling are soaking, steaming and drying.
- These steps make the rice easier to process by hand, while also boosting its nutritional profile, changing its texture, and making it more resistant to weevils.
- Given the pale tan color that results from these bran components, parboiled rice is sometimes called saffron sella.
NUTRITION IN PARBOILED RICE:
- Compared to brown rice, parboiling of rice incurs losses of thiamin, niacin, biotin, and pantothenic acid by approximately 70%, 28%, 49% and 25%, respectively.
- Compared to normal milling, which causes a near 65% loss of all these micronutrients, parboiling preserves more of them.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PARBOILED RICE:
- The starch in parboiled rice acts as a prebiotic, meaning that it acts as a sort of fertilizer and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut.
- Studies suggest that, in comparison to both white rice and brown rice, parboiled rice has a lower impact on blood sugar levels, making it a safer choice for people with diabetes than other rices.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF PARBOILED RICE:
- Like all rice, parboiled rice contains levels of inorganic arsenic. Eating large amounts of rice can lead to toxic levels of arsenic in your bloodstream, which can be particularly harmful for young children.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, CURRENT AFFAIRS
