Information is being disseminated on social networks that they allegedly brought in rice with cadmium, which causes infertility and atrophy of the muscles of the limbs. Allegedly, it was “rejected” in Italy and deliberately taken to Ukraine. Like, there are no shells with depleted uranium for Ukrainians, but there is poisonous rice. This is manipulation.

Italian rice did indeed make it to Ukraine, but even before it was considered dangerous. The product was promptly withdrawn from circulation following a hazard alert notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). VoxCheck fact-checkers explain that this is Italian risotto rice, which was found to have a high content of cadmium. Cadmium really has a toxic effect on the kidneys, bone and respiratory systems, therefore it is dangerous to health.

Finland was the first to have reported on a dangerous product on February 3. Ukraine received a notification a little later, when the results of the Polish inspection were ready, since rice was imported to Ukraine from Poland. That is, poisonous rice was not specially imported to Ukraine, it was sold both in Italy and throughout Europe. On the contrary, after the threat was discovered, Ukraine was immediately informed about the danger.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to sow panic among Ukrainians and discredit the export of goods and products to Ukraine. They say that Ukrainians are treated with disdain, and therefore they supply low-quality goods. Previously, Russian propaganda spread a similar fake, which allegedly poisoned Ukrainians with cookies.