Seven Seas Shipping Lines says 135 tonnes of rice are being held separately pending final quality clearance, while tests found no harmful levels of aflatoxin.
Representational image/Collected
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Representational image/Collected
Seven Seas Shipping Lines, the shipping and logistics agent for an Indian supplier of parboiled rice imported under the government food programme, has disputed media reports that 135 tonnes of the rice contained harmful levels of aflatoxin and that 9,500 tonnes of the consignment had been suspended from distribution.
In a statement issued yesterday, the company said the vessel MV HT Pioneer arrived at Chattogram port on 21 July 2026 carrying 10,878 tonnes of parboiled rice from Kolkata. It completed unloading and left the port on 10 August, with no part of the consignment returned to India, the company said.
According to Seven Seas, the Directorate General of Food (DG Food) collected and tested samples before approving the unloading and acceptance of the consignment.
During warehouse inspections, concerns were raised over the colour of some of the rice and the condition of certain kernels. Following the authorities’ instructions, the rice in question was segregated and unloaded separately.
Addressing reports of aflatoxin contamination, the company said DG Food conducted additional tests and sent samples to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), while the supplier arranged independent testing in India.
The SGS test report available to the supplier showed aflatoxin levels at BLQ (Below Limit of Quantification), meaning they were below the laboratory’s quantifiable limit and within the applicable safety threshold, the company said.
Seven Seas also claimed that BRRI’s tests found no harmful levels of aflatoxin, although the laboratory report has not been made public.
The company said around 135 tonnes of rice were being kept separately in government warehouses pending completion of the authorities’ quality-assurance process and final clearance.
Seven Seas urged the media to verify laboratory reports, sampling procedures and relevant facts before publishing reports on food-safety issues.
Unverified or exaggerated reports could damage the supplier’s reputation and affect future food imports and government procurement, it warned.
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