We periodically hear about high Arsenic levels in rice; particularly, in rice-based baby foods. Now there’s an alert about toxic heavy metals in all types and brands of regular, straight-up store-bought dry rice in the US…
Why are there dangerous levels of toxic materials such as arsenic and cadmium in the rice Americans (and presumably others folks around the world) are eating every day? Some several times a day?
Key findings alarming
The report, What’s In Your Family’s Rice?, analysed samples of store-bought rice from 145 different brands, grown in India, Italy, Thailand and the United States.
All brands tested contained ‘dangerously high’ levels of arsenic and cadmium. And many contained more arsenic and cadmium, particularly, than allowed under official government regulations. And the tests found that rice consistently contains from 2 to 5 times the amount of heavy metal contaminants than other types of grain. (See chart, above).
Other heavy metals including mercury and lead were also found – but in much lower concentrations.
Why in rice?
According to the new study, “The type of rice and how it’s grown and processed can impact levels of arsenic and other heavy metals […] Brown and wild rice often contain the highest levels because the milling process used to create white rice removes the outer layers of the hull, where heavy metals are concentrated.”
A 2022 study of heavy metal contamination of rice in China – the world’s largest producer and consu-mer of rice – concluded: “Contamination of heavy metals is mainly caused by natural origination and anthropogenic [human-related] activities, [such as] mining [and the use of] fertilizers and pesticides made predominant contributions.
“[This has] led to the continuing accumulation of toxic heavy metals in the soil of rice paddies, from which the metals can enter rice. This accumulation is especially high in southern China, which has rapidly industrialized.”
The story is pretty much the same everywhere. We’re poisoning ourselves.
A huge problem
Michael Klein, Vice President of Communications and Strategic Development at USA Rice, agrees that any issue nearing on rice is huge, because rice is so ubiquitous in the diets of the world: “It is worth noting [that] the top source (42 percent) of arsenic in the diet of Americans is fruits, vegetables, and fruit juice. Rice is 17 percent,.”
However… Study co-author Jane Houlihan, Research Director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, ob-serves Klein’s comparison is flawed. Houlihan points out that, ‘[D]ozens of different fruits and vegetables contribute to that figure of 42 percent’. “In contrast, rice alone — one specific food — contributes 17 percent, likely making it the single largest individual food source of arsenic in the American diet.”
What can you do?
There are many cautions you can exercise when choosing the rice you buy for your family. There are also a number of practices you can follow to remove toxic heavy metals from rice during prep and cooking.
The study report suggests: “Simple changes, such as using safer cooking methods, incorporating alternative grains, and opting for lower-arsenic rice varieties, can make a big difference in lowering exposures.”
It also says the FDA, “…could deliver powerful benefits for families[by]: Setting limits (action levels) for arsenic and cadmium in rice; encouraging labels on rice products that meet the infant rice cereal standard; [and] requiring testing and public posting of results.”
My take
In spite of the overwhelming evidence, Klein insists, “[USA Rice] do not agree that there is a public health safety issue as a result of trace amounts of arsenic in rice.”
However, “[USA Rice] will continue to work with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the US rice supply meets any threshold established.”
Nevertheless, I agree with the study report, that the FDA will probably have to mandate lower ‘action levels’ of heavy metals in rice, require increased testing, and insist on more–prominent contaminant labelling on rice to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed, healthy choices.
~ Maggie J.