Indonesia : Premium Rice Scarce in Jakarta Minimarkets Following Fake Rice Scandal
Premium rice shortages have hit minimarkets in Jakarta following a spike in fake rice cases. Major brands like Sania and Topi Koki were recalled to protect consumers. Traditional markets also report declining sales due to public mistrust. Authorities warn that mislabeling rice is fraud, risking major consumer losses.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The supply of premium rice was reported to be limited in several minimarkets on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The shortage follows the emergence of adulterated rice cases that have been under scrutiny since mid-July.
Tempo observed that the shelf usually stocked with 5-kilogram (kg) bags of premium rice at Alfamart Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, was empty.
A store employee, who declined to be named, said that premium rice from various brands had been pulled from circulation since Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
“Brands like Sania, Topi Koki, Raja, and Food Station (FS) have all been recalled,” the employee said, adding that the decision was made by management to protect consumers from potentially harmful products.
At another Alfamart outlet on Jalan Raya Pondok Gede, a cashier named Fahri explained that the recalls were prompted by the ongoing fake rice cases. “Sania is the brand most often recalled because of these incidents,” he said.
According to Fahri, once news about the fake rice spread, store management instructed staff to remove premium rice products from the shelves. The vacant space was replaced with other goods such as cooking oil, flour, and 2-kg packages of red rice from Alfamart’s private label.
At Indomaret Pasar Tumpah in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, a similar situation occurred. Zulfikar, an employee, said that the warehouse had been out of premium rice for a week.
“Sania rice in both 5-kg and 2.5-kg sizes is no longer available. Even our storage is empty,” he said on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
In the traditional market sector, Jefri, a medium rice trader at Kramat Jati Market, said his sales had dropped significantly since the fake rice cases gained attention.
“I usually earn Rp 3-4 million per day, but now it’s only about Rp2 million,” he told Tempo on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Jefri noted that some customers had expressed distrust, suspecting his rice to be fake. However, he reassured them that his store only sells medium-grade rice. “There’s no need to worry. We don’t sell premium rice,” he said.
His store offers various brands of medium rice, including BMW fragrant pandan at Rp90,000 per 5 kg, Tiga Jambu at Rp80,000, and Jeruk Jeju at Rp77,000.
The surge in fake rice cases comes despite an increase in national rice production. Prices in the market remain volatile, and the Ministry of Agriculture has found discrepancies between the contents of rice bags and their labeling.
Arief Prasetyo Adi, Head of the National Food Agency, said these practices could lead to consumer losses of up to Rp99 trillion per year. He emphasized that rice sold to the public must match the quality and type stated on the packaging.
“If the rice does not match the label, it’s considered fraud,” Arief said.
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Source : Tempo
