SINGAPORE - With its health benefits clearer by the day, brown rice is set to become a fixture on the menu at all 10 dining outlets in the five hotels owned by the Pan Pacific Hotels Group in Singapore.

"Brown rice is a healthier alternative and more readily available than other kinds of rice," said Mr Timur Senturk, Vice-President of Operations, Asean, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

The decision was spurred by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) highlighting white rice as a cause of diabetes two weeks ago.

A previous report, based on a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, revealed that each plate of white rice eaten in a day on a regular basis increased a person's risk of diabetes by 11 per cent.

Despite knowing the risk, however, about 4 in 5 people still prefer white rice, a Straits Times poll on May 7 showed.

All dining outlets in the hotel chain will offer brown rice or a mix of brown and white rice as an option at no extra cost in any rice-based dish.

Healthier alternatives are also available at other hotels.

Capella Singapore told The Straits Times that while brown rice isn't offered on menus, it has other healthy options.

"For example, for Mother's Day this month, we introduced an antioxidant-themed brunch and superfood-themed semi-buffet dinner at The Knolls restaurant," said Chef David Senia, Director of Culinary at Capella Singapore.

Nevertheless, the hotel is always open to requests for brown rice.

"If guests request (brown rice) at least two to three days in advance, we will try our best to accommodate them," he said.

Correction note: An earlier version of this article stated that brown rice is set to become a fixture on the menu at all 10 hotels owned by the Pan Pacific Hotels Group in Singapore. It has been corrected to say that brown rice is on the menu at 10 dining outlets in the five hotels owned by the Group. We are sorry for the error.