The reasons for this included the fact barley rice easily deteriorated and became infested with vermin, tasted bad and was difficult to transport, besides which practical concerns it is said there was another emotional resistance to barley rice.
その理由として「麦は虫がつきやすい、変敗しやすい、味が悪い、輸送が困難などの反対論がつよく」、その上、脚気予防（理屈）とは別のもの（情）もあったとされる。