A viral TikTok video of a user reacting with mock horror to a man in another video who claims rice shouldn’t be washed has opened up conversation about which is best practice.
In the original video, posted by @100percentbougie, the user explains that rice shouldn’t be washed because it’s “washing off all the vitamins and minerals.”
In response, @jar_oh_me says in his video, “Oh h*ll no!” before quoting a Mushu from the original Disney animated film “Mulan” (1998): “Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your family! Dishonor on your cow!”
Since being uploaded on Feb. 28, the video has now accumulated 3.7 million likes and 22.6 million views.
Many users agreed with @jar_oh_me that rice should always be washed. One user wrote, “Why are people questioning rice washing? IT IS LAW” while another user commented, “*the filipino was too stunned to speak*.”
Some users, however, were left confused, confessing they were unaware that rice needs to be washed.
It is generally recommended that rice be washed before consumption due to the potential contamination of harmful metals such as water-soluble arsenic and lead. Rice grows in rice paddies where these harmful metals can seep through polluted groundwater.
A study done in 2018 by the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that washing rice can significantly reduce the concentration of heavy metal contaminants. The consumption of contaminants in large quantities can lead to dangerous side-effects, including risk of cancer and organ damage.
Featured Image via TikTok
