A new report may have you reevaluating how much rice you feed your children.
Rice and many products containing rice have significant levels of inorganic arsenic, which is linked to cancer. Now, new guidelines have been released for limits on how much rice you and your children should eat.
Consumer Reports analyzed Food and Drug Administration data on more than 600 foods that contain rice and found some with worrisome levels of inorganic arsenic.
“We found that hot rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more arsenic than we saw in our previous tests. So we now recommend that children rarely eat these foods, which means not more than twice a month,” said Dr. Michael Crupain, director of Consumer Reports’ Food Safety and Sustainability Center.
Consumer Reports also recommends children under five limit rice drinks, rice cakes and ready-to-eat rice cereals.
“Levels of arsenic vary. We based our recommendations on the higher levels in each food group to offer consumers the best protection,” said Dr. Crupain.
As for rice itself, Consumer Reports’ lab tests in 2012 found high levels of inorganic arsenic in white rice and even higher levels in brown rice. Other types of rice and other grains had much lower levels of inorganic arsenic.
Some good choices include sushi rice from the U.S. and white basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan. On average, they had half the amount of arsenic as most other types of rice.
Brown basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan had about one-third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rice.
Other good options are bulgur, barley and faro, as well as gluten-free grains like amaranth, buckwheat, millet and quinoa.
In response to the Consumer Reports’ investigation, the USA Rice Federation issued this statement: “Research conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. rice industry shows arsenic levels found in U.S.-grown rice are below safe maximum levels established this year by the World Health Organization. Studies show that including white or brown rice in the diet provides measureable health benefits that outweigh the potential risks associated with exposure to trace levels of arsenic. The U.S. rice industry is committed to growing a safe and healthy product; we continuously test our crop, and research ways of reducing the already low levels of arsenic found in rice even further.
The Food & Drug Administration issued this statement: “The FDA’s ongoing assessment of arsenic in rice remains a priority for the agency. Last year, the FDA released what we believe to be the largest set of test results to date on the presence of arsenic in rice and rice products, and we are planning to release a draft assessment of the potential health risks associated with the consumption of arsenic in these same foods. Until that review is completed, the agency continues to recommend that consumers, including pregnant women, eat a well-balanced diet containing a variety of grains. Parents should feed infants and toddlers a variety of grains as well, and consider options other than rice cereal for a child’s first solid food.”
Published studies and ongoing FDA research indicate that cooking rice in excess volumes of water, five to six times that of the rice, and draining the water can reduce the arsenic content, though it may also reduce the nutritional value of the rice.
