Commentary for Pesachim 101:2

אלא אמר רב אשי חזינן אי רובן אורז אכלי לא ניכלה זר באפייהו דילמא משתכחא תורת חלה מינייהו ואי רובן דגן אכלי ניכלה זר באפייהו דילמא אתי לאפרושי מן החיוב על הפטור ומן הפטור על החיוב

Because they confound one thing [with another]!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If they were treated with leniency in one case, their laxity in general would increase.');">²</span> Then these people too [being ignorant] confound one thing [with another]? - Rather, said R'Ashi, we consider: if most of them eat rice [bread], a lay Israelite must not eat it [the hallah] in their prese lest the law of hallah be [altogether] forgotten by them; but if most of them eat corn [bread], let a lay Israel eat it in their presence, lest they come to separate [hallah] from what is liable upon what is exempt, and from what is exempt upon what is liable.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hallah can be separated from one piece of dough upon another piece, providing that both are liable; but if one is liable while the other is not, the separated piece is not hallah, while the other remains forbidden as tebel. Hence if they separate hallah from rice dough, which is really exempt, upon dough of wheat, which is liable, the latter remains tebel, and by eating it they transgress. Again, if they separate hallah from wheat dough upon itself and upon a rice dough, the former is not hallah but likewise tebel, and when it is given to the priest he eats tebel.');">³</span> [It was stated in] the text: 'Things which are permitted, yet others treat them as forbidden, you may not permit it in their presence.

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