Wal-Mart unit limits rice to 36kg per person

Sam's Club said it had temporarily placed limits of four 20-pound (nine-kilogram) bags a person for jasmine, basmati, and other long-grain white rice types.

"We currently have plenty of rice for Sam's Club Members," the company said in a statement.

"However, like our competitors, we're just taking the precautionary step of limiting sales of the very large 20 pound bags" of imported white rice, it said.

Sam's Club, a members-only bulk retailer chain owned by Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said smaller-sized bags of rice were not affected by the restrictions; nor did they extend to Wal-Mart stores.

"This temporary cap is intended to ensure there is plenty of rice for all our members. No other items are affected." .