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The Mainichi

News in Easy English: Expert says Japan's stored rice 'can still taste good'

TOKYO -- Japan's government has started selling older stored rice to lower rice prices. Usually, the rice stays in storage to help people after disasters. Selling this rice in stores is new, and some people are worried the taste is not good. Many people believe stored rice tastes bad. Yuichiro Tamaki, a politician, said rice stored for a long time is "food for animals." But rice expert Toshiaki Mitsui from Niigata University said older rice is still good to eat. He tested rice from different years. He said, "New rice tastes best. Older rice can be drier and lose some smell, but it can still taste good." The stored rice is kept at a low temperature, so it stays fresh. Rice stored more than five years is usually sold for animals to eat. Mitsui smiled and said even that rice has good quality, so farm animals eat well too. Rice cooker company Zojirushi says older rice cooks better if you add a little more water. It also says you don't have to wash old rice strongly. Washing it lightly is enough. (Japanese original by Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department) Vocabulary stored rice: rice kept for use later politician: a person who works in the government expert: a person who knows a lot about something quality: how good something is disaster: something very bad like an earthquake or flood