Ajara Ghansal Rice

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Ajara Ghansal is a traditional non-basmati aromatic rice landrace (Oryza sativa L.) with small grains and excellent cooking qualities, cultivated exclusively in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, India, owing to the unique micro-climate required for its characteristic aroma and grain quality. It is consumed as a whole grain staple food and is prized for its distinctive fragrance and taste.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

As a whole-grain cereal, Ajara Ghansal rice carries no known specific toxicological risks for the general adult population; it is a natural, unprocessed food ingredient with no regulated additives or identified harmful compounds. Like all rice varieties, it contains carbohydrates and should be consumed in moderation by individuals managing blood glucose. No IARC classification, ADI, or special safety restrictions apply to this ingredient.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Ajara Ghansal falls under FSSAI's general standards for non-basmati rice (Oryza sativa). FSSAI has specific identity standards for Basmati rice but not a dedicated standard for this landrace. It is traded legally as a traditional variety under general cereal/grain regulations. A Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been associated with Ajara Ghansal rice from Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, though no dedicated FSSAI additive or safety regulation exists for this whole-grain variety.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Diabetes — Like all white/milled rice varieties, Ajara Ghansal has a moderate-to-high glycemic index due to its starch content; individuals with diabetes should monitor portion sizes and prefer less-milled or parboiled forms where available.

Gluten Intolerance — While rice is naturally gluten-free, cross-contamination during processing or storage is possible; individuals with celiac disease should verify that Ajara Ghansal rice is certified gluten-free before consumption.

Infants — Rice-based foods can contain inorganic arsenic (a Group 1 IARC carcinogen), and WHO and EFSA advise that infants and young children should not rely solely on rice-based foods to minimize cumulative arsenic exposure.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FSSAI. Regulatory Standards for Basmati Rice – FSSAI Gazette Notification, 2023. fssai.gov.in
2PubMed. Genetic improvement of two Indian non-basmati aromatic rice landraces through physical and chemical mutagenesis, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3PubMed. Evaluation of indigenous aromatic rice cultivars from sub-Himalayan Terai region of India for nutritional attributes and blast resistance, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4PubMed. Application of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and nitrogen regulates aroma biochemistry in fragrant rice, 2019. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched4 citations