Japan's Rice Crisis Sparks Debate Over 'Old Rice' as Former Minister Critiques Situation
Japan is facing a persistent rice shortage, with prices skyrocketing, prompting the government to release reserve rice to address the crisis. Some 'old rice' has re-entered the market, with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi personally tasting it and assuring that its flavor is not much different from fresh rice.
However, former Minister of Internal Affairs Hiroshi Horiguchi criticized the situation, stating that this 'old rice' is primarily fed to chickens, not humans. He expressed concern about the price surge, noting that what used to cost 83 yen for 5 kilograms is now over 2000 yen.
Horiguchi emphasized that this is a reality and raised questions about safety, warning that eating old rice like fresh rice might pose risks. Nonetheless, experts have indicated that properly stored old rice can be safely consumed.
