The genetic analysis was used to investigate the composition and proportion of mixed rice varieties. The information on rice packaging is insufficient to determine which varieties are included in a single product. Therefore, consumers cannot determine...
The genetic analysis was used to investigate the composition and proportion of mixed rice varieties. The information on rice packaging is insufficient to determine which varieties are included in a single product. Therefore, consumers cannot determine which varieties are mixed. This study aimed to identify the varieties within commercially available mixed rice products and analyze the varietal differences between products. Sixteen non-overlapping varieties classified as mixed were selected for the study. For each sample, genetic analysis was performed to identify the varieties and determine the proportion of mixed varieties. This analysis was effective in identifying and estimating the content of each product. The analysis revealed that 30 of the 303 major domestic rice varieties were detected in 16 products. The average number of mixed varieties per product was 5-6, with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 11. Although the same variety was included in multiple products, the ratios of each variety varied slightly across products. There was no significant difference in average protein and amylose content across products, and similar nutritional characteristics were observed when compared to single-variety rice. Prior to this study, the perception of single-variety rice was superior in taste and quality. However, this study confirmed that high-quality mixed varieties are being combined to produce a single product. These results contribute to improving the perception of mixed-variety rice and lower expectations compared to single-variety rice. They are also expected to serve as basic data for the quality and safety of mixed products, contributing to enhanced consumer trust and market transparency.