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https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/11/arsenic-in-your-food/index.htm
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How much arsenic is in your rice?
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https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/11/arsenic-in-your-food/index.htm
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How much arsenic is in your rice?
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Consumer Reports' new data and guidelines are important for everyone but especially for gluten avoiders
In late 2012 we released our original report on arsenic in rice, in which we found measurable levels in almost all of the 60 rice varieties and rice products we tested.
Our most recent testing and analysis gave us some new information on the risk of arsenic exposure in infants and children through rice cereal and other rice products. We looked at data released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products.
We found that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic—a carcinogen—than our 2012 data showed. According to the results of our new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice we recommend they should have in a week. Rice cakes supply close to a child's weekly limit in one serving. Rice drinks can also be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn’t drink them instead of milk. (Learn the new rice rules about weekly servings.)
Related Topics
In 2012, we recommended that babies eat no more than one serving of infant rice cereal per day, on average, and that their diets should include cereals made from other grains. We did not find any reason to change our advice based on our new analysis. When we shared our results with the FDA and asked for comment, the agency reiterated its recommendation that everyone, including pregnant women, infants, and toddlers, should eat a variety of grains. And they pointed out that parents should "consider options other than rice cereal for a child’s first solid food.”
The trouble with arsenic
Arsenic has two chemical forms, inorganic and organic (the latter of which can be less toxic), and is naturally part of the minerals in the earth’s crust. (Note, here organic is a chemistry term and should not be confused with food sold as “organic.”) Arsenic also has been released into the environment through the use of pesticides and poultry fertilizer. (Chickens can be fed arsenic.) Therefore, it’s in soil and water. Rice tends to absorb arsenic more readily than many other plants.
Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic can increase the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies also suggest that arsenic exposure in utero may have effects on the baby’s immune system.
The USA Rice Federation says, "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." Consumer Reports food safety experts believe those levels do carry a risk.
There is no federal limit for arsenic in rice and rice products. (The FDA has proposed a "action level" for arsenic in juice.) Since 2012, Consumer Reports has been calling on the FDA to set one. The agency told us: "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."
Answering consumers’ questions
After our 2012 report, we got many questions. Two of the most common: “Are there any types of rice that are lower in arsenic?” and “Do other grains, such as quinoa, contain arsenic, too?” We now have the answers.
In addition to analyzing the FDA data on rice products, scientists at our Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine, and sushi rice for arsenic. We combined the data with the results of our 2012 tests and FDA data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice. We also looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of nonrice grains. (You can read the details of our testing in our full report.)
Nicer rices
Our latest tests determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was grown. White basmati rice from California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic-arsenic amount of most other types of rice.
Our findings led us to treat those specific rices from those areas differently from other types of rice and rices grown in other regions. Based on our data, we calculated that consumers could have about twice as many weekly servings as we previously recommended if that was the only rice or rice product someone ate. For adults, that adds up to 4½ servings per week; children could have 2¾ servings.
All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating that it’s from Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas or just from the U.S. had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in our tests. For instance, white rices from California have 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.
Brown rice has 80 percent more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type. Arsenic accumulates in the grain’s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice. Brown has more nutrients, though, so you shouldn’t switch entirely to white. Brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan is the best choice; it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rices.
Rice that’s grown organically takes up arsenic the same way conventional rice does, so don’t rely on organic to have less arsenic.
Grains lower in arsenic
The gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet, and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. Bulgur, barley, and farro, which contain gluten, also have very little arsenic. Quinoa (also gluten-free), had average inorganic arsenic levels comparable to those of other alternative grains. But some samples had quite a bit more. Though they were still much lower than any of the rices, those spikes illustrate the importance of varying the types of grains you eat.
Cooking to lower arsenic levels
You may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in any type of rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking, using a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice, and draining the excess water afterward. That is a traditional method of cooking rice in Asia.
The modern technique of cooking rice in water that is entirely absorbed by the grains has been promoted because it allows rice to retain more of its vitamins and other nutrients. But even though you may sacrifice some of rice's nutritional value, research has shown that rinsing and using more water removes about 30 percent of the rice's inorganic arsenic content.
The new rice rules: 7 points per weekWe used our new data and analysis to assign a point value to types of rice foods. On average, we recommend getting no more than 7 points per week. Risk analysis is based on weight, so a serving of any food will give children more points than adults.
In late 2012 we released our original report on arsenic in rice, in which we found measurable levels in almost all of the 60 rice varieties and rice products we tested.
Our most recent testing and analysis gave us some new information on the risk of arsenic exposure in infants and children through rice cereal and other rice products. We looked at data released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products.
We found that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic—a carcinogen—than our 2012 data showed. According to the results of our new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice we recommend they should have in a week. Rice cakes supply close to a child's weekly limit in one serving. Rice drinks can also be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn’t drink them instead of milk. (Learn the new rice rules about weekly servings.)
Related Topics
In 2012, we recommended that babies eat no more than one serving of infant rice cereal per day, on average, and that their diets should include cereals made from other grains. We did not find any reason to change our advice based on our new analysis. When we shared our results with the FDA and asked for comment, the agency reiterated its recommendation that everyone, including pregnant women, infants, and toddlers, should eat a variety of grains. And they pointed out that parents should "consider options other than rice cereal for a child’s first solid food.”
The trouble with arsenic
Arsenic has two chemical forms, inorganic and organic (the latter of which can be less toxic), and is naturally part of the minerals in the earth’s crust. (Note, here organic is a chemistry term and should not be confused with food sold as “organic.”) Arsenic also has been released into the environment through the use of pesticides and poultry fertilizer. (Chickens can be fed arsenic.) Therefore, it’s in soil and water. Rice tends to absorb arsenic more readily than many other plants.
Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic can increase the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies also suggest that arsenic exposure in utero may have effects on the baby’s immune system.
The USA Rice Federation says, "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." Consumer Reports food safety experts believe those levels do carry a risk.
There is no federal limit for arsenic in rice and rice products. (The FDA has proposed a "action level" for arsenic in juice.) Since 2012, Consumer Reports has been calling on the FDA to set one. The agency told us: "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."
Answering consumers’ questions
After our 2012 report, we got many questions. Two of the most common: “Are there any types of rice that are lower in arsenic?” and “Do other grains, such as quinoa, contain arsenic, too?” We now have the answers.
In addition to analyzing the FDA data on rice products, scientists at our Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine, and sushi rice for arsenic. We combined the data with the results of our 2012 tests and FDA data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice. We also looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of nonrice grains. (You can read the details of our testing in our full report.)
Nicer rices
Our latest tests determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was grown. White basmati rice from California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic-arsenic amount of most other types of rice.
Our findings led us to treat those specific rices from those areas differently from other types of rice and rices grown in other regions. Based on our data, we calculated that consumers could have about twice as many weekly servings as we previously recommended if that was the only rice or rice product someone ate. For adults, that adds up to 4½ servings per week; children could have 2¾ servings.
All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating that it’s from Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas or just from the U.S. had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in our tests. For instance, white rices from California have 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.
Brown rice has 80 percent more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type. Arsenic accumulates in the grain’s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice. Brown has more nutrients, though, so you shouldn’t switch entirely to white. Brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan is the best choice; it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rices.
Rice that’s grown organically takes up arsenic the same way conventional rice does, so don’t rely on organic to have less arsenic.
Grains lower in arsenic
The gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet, and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. Bulgur, barley, and farro, which contain gluten, also have very little arsenic. Quinoa (also gluten-free), had average inorganic arsenic levels comparable to those of other alternative grains. But some samples had quite a bit more. Though they were still much lower than any of the rices, those spikes illustrate the importance of varying the types of grains you eat.
Cooking to lower arsenic levels
You may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in any type of rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking, using a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice, and draining the excess water afterward. That is a traditional method of cooking rice in Asia.
The modern technique of cooking rice in water that is entirely absorbed by the grains has been promoted because it allows rice to retain more of its vitamins and other nutrients. But even though you may sacrifice some of rice's nutritional value, research has shown that rinsing and using more water removes about 30 percent of the rice's inorganic arsenic content.
The new rice rules: 7 points per weekWe used our new data and analysis to assign a point value to types of rice foods. On average, we recommend getting no more than 7 points per week. Risk analysis is based on weight, so a serving of any food will give children more points than adults.
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What is arsenic?
Arsenic is a chemical element present in the environment from both natural and human sources, including erosion of arsenic-containing rocks, volcanic eruptions, contamination from mining and smelting ores and previous or current use of arsenic-containing pesticides.
Are there different types of arsenic?
There are two general types of arsenic compounds in water, food, air and soil: organic and inorganic (these together are referred to as “total arsenic”). The inorganic forms of arsenic are the forms that have been more closely associated with long-term health effects.
How does arsenic get into foods? Do all foods have arsenic?
Arsenic is present in many foods, including grains, fruits and vegetables where it is present due to absorption from the soil and water. While most crops don’t readily take up much arsenic from the ground, rice is different because it takes up arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains. In addition, some seafood contains high levels of organic arsenic.
What are the health risks associated with arsenic exposure?
Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin, bladder and lung cancers, as well as heart disease.
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Arsenic is a chemical element present in the environment from both natural and human sources, including erosion of arsenic-containing rocks, volcanic eruptions, contamination from mining and smelting ores and previous or current use of arsenic-containing pesticides.
Are there different types of arsenic?
There are two general types of arsenic compounds in water, food, air and soil: organic and inorganic (these together are referred to as “total arsenic”). The inorganic forms of arsenic are the forms that have been more closely associated with long-term health effects.
How does arsenic get into foods? Do all foods have arsenic?
Arsenic is present in many foods, including grains, fruits and vegetables where it is present due to absorption from the soil and water. While most crops don’t readily take up much arsenic from the ground, rice is different because it takes up arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains. In addition, some seafood contains high levels of organic arsenic.
What are the health risks associated with arsenic exposure?
Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin, bladder and lung cancers, as well as heart disease.
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Arsenic in rice: how concerned should you be?
by CHRIS KRESSER
http://chriskresser.com/arsenic-in-rice-how-concerned-should-you-be
If you knew there was arsenic in your food, would you eat it?
More importantly, would you serve it to your children?
Recently, Consumer Reports Magazine released their analysis of arsenic levels in rice products, and the results were concerning. Popular rice products including white rice, brown rice, organic rice baby cereal, and rice breakfast cereals, were all found to contain arsenic, a potent carcinogen that can also be harmful to a child’s developing brain.
“In virtually every product tested, we found measurable amounts of total arsenic in its two forms. We found significant levels of inorganic arsenic, which is a carcinogen, in almost every product category, along with organic arsenic, which is less toxic but still of concern.”
The study not only found a significant amount of arsenic in many rice products on the market, but also that arsenic levels in the blood directly increase with greater rice consumption.(1) Several products tested had more arsenic in each serving than the 5 parts per billion (ppb) limit for adults set by the EPA as safe. (2)
What’s worse, many of these arsenic-containing rice products are marketed to children and infants as “health foods”, and children are far more susceptible to the dangerous impacts of arsenic exposure. (3, 4, 5) Research suggests that high levels of arsenic exposure during childhood are associated with neurobehavioral problems as well as cancer and lung disease later in life. (6) This means parents must be especially careful to avoid serving their children food with significant levels of arsenic.
While many of my readers follow a strict Paleo diet and couldn’t care less about arsenic in rice, there are many more who are more liberal in their diet and consume white rice as a “safe” starch. In fact, rice is often recommended by well-educated bloggers such as Paul Jaminet as a component of a perfectly healthy and enjoyable diet. I personally eat white rice on occasion and feel it is a safe starch for those who tolerate it. But now that there is a new issue with rice consumption, one that has nothing to do with carbohydrates, does that mean we should avoid it entirely?
White rice can be a “safe” starchI don’t think it’s necessary to completely eliminate rice from the diet. The EPA’s 5 ppb per day limit on arsenic is probably what we should shoot for in our diets, in light of current evidence. Many of the white rice products tested had fairly low levels of arsenic, and in the context of a few servings a week for an adult, it’s probably not an issue.
As for very young children and infants, I don’t recommend serving them rice products in general, so they shouldn’t be exposed to arsenic from rice anyway. Pregnant women may want to be cautious about their rice intake, and minimize their exposure to arsenic to protect their developing fetus; finding another safe starch to replace rice during pregnancy would be wise.
So if you choose to purchase white rice, buy a brand made in California like Lundberg; their California White Basmati Rice has only 1.3 to 1.6 ppb arsenic per serving (1/4 cup uncooked), well below the safe limit. In addition, rinsing the rice before cooking and boiling it in a high water-to-rice ratio can help reduce the arsenic content significantly. (7) So if you want to keep white rice as a part of your diet, I recommend looking for a safe brand like Lundberg and rinsing the rice thoroughly before cooking in a large quantity of water; this should be adequate to make rice a safe food to eat in moderation.
Brown rice: Not a health food!
Brown rice, on the other hand, has significantly more arsenic than white rice and should be avoided or consumed rarely.
Some of the brown rice brands tested contained at least 50% more than the safe limit per serving, and a few even had nearly double the safe limit. (PDF with complete details of test results) Note that some of the worst offenders for arsenic are made from brown rice: processed rice products like brown rice syrup, brown rice pasta, rice cakes and brown rice crisps. These processed products are commonly consumed by those following a “healthy” whole grain rich or gluten-free diet, but they clearly pose a significant risk of arsenic overexposure, especially if a person eats more than one serving per day. Obviously, brown rice is not a food that should be a dietary staple, or even eaten on a regular basis.
# Arsenic: another reason to prefer white rice over brown?
Aside from having a higher arsenic content, there are other reasons to avoid brown rice: it’s harder to digest and nutrient absorption is likely inferior to white rice because of phytates in the rice bran. (8) Despite a higher nutrient content of brown rice compared to white rice, the anti-nutrients present in brown rice reduce the bioavailability of any vitamins and minerals present. (9) Plus, brown rice also reduces dietary protein and fat digestibility compared to white rice. (10) In short, brown rice is not a health food for a variety of reasons, and a higher arsenic content is simply another reason to avoid eating it.
No food is completely safe or without some level of contamination risk: vegetables make up 24 percent of our arsenic exposure and tap water can legally contain 10 ppb arsenic per liter (some systems even exceed the legal limit.) (11) So while rice may contribute an unsafe level of arsenic, it’s certainly not the only source in our diet, and we need to be cautious about demonizing an entire class of food based on a soundbite from a news story. While I don’t think rice is a necessary component of a healthy diet, I do think it can be incorporated safely as a source of starch: just be sure to pay attention to the brand you’re buying, as well as your method of preparation.
Is rice a major staple in your diet?
Will you continue eating it, or is this arsenic report enough to put you off rice altogether?
by CHRIS KRESSER
http://chriskresser.com/arsenic-in-rice-how-concerned-should-you-be
If you knew there was arsenic in your food, would you eat it?
More importantly, would you serve it to your children?
Recently, Consumer Reports Magazine released their analysis of arsenic levels in rice products, and the results were concerning. Popular rice products including white rice, brown rice, organic rice baby cereal, and rice breakfast cereals, were all found to contain arsenic, a potent carcinogen that can also be harmful to a child’s developing brain.
“In virtually every product tested, we found measurable amounts of total arsenic in its two forms. We found significant levels of inorganic arsenic, which is a carcinogen, in almost every product category, along with organic arsenic, which is less toxic but still of concern.”
The study not only found a significant amount of arsenic in many rice products on the market, but also that arsenic levels in the blood directly increase with greater rice consumption.(1) Several products tested had more arsenic in each serving than the 5 parts per billion (ppb) limit for adults set by the EPA as safe. (2)
What’s worse, many of these arsenic-containing rice products are marketed to children and infants as “health foods”, and children are far more susceptible to the dangerous impacts of arsenic exposure. (3, 4, 5) Research suggests that high levels of arsenic exposure during childhood are associated with neurobehavioral problems as well as cancer and lung disease later in life. (6) This means parents must be especially careful to avoid serving their children food with significant levels of arsenic.
While many of my readers follow a strict Paleo diet and couldn’t care less about arsenic in rice, there are many more who are more liberal in their diet and consume white rice as a “safe” starch. In fact, rice is often recommended by well-educated bloggers such as Paul Jaminet as a component of a perfectly healthy and enjoyable diet. I personally eat white rice on occasion and feel it is a safe starch for those who tolerate it. But now that there is a new issue with rice consumption, one that has nothing to do with carbohydrates, does that mean we should avoid it entirely?
White rice can be a “safe” starchI don’t think it’s necessary to completely eliminate rice from the diet. The EPA’s 5 ppb per day limit on arsenic is probably what we should shoot for in our diets, in light of current evidence. Many of the white rice products tested had fairly low levels of arsenic, and in the context of a few servings a week for an adult, it’s probably not an issue.
As for very young children and infants, I don’t recommend serving them rice products in general, so they shouldn’t be exposed to arsenic from rice anyway. Pregnant women may want to be cautious about their rice intake, and minimize their exposure to arsenic to protect their developing fetus; finding another safe starch to replace rice during pregnancy would be wise.
So if you choose to purchase white rice, buy a brand made in California like Lundberg; their California White Basmati Rice has only 1.3 to 1.6 ppb arsenic per serving (1/4 cup uncooked), well below the safe limit. In addition, rinsing the rice before cooking and boiling it in a high water-to-rice ratio can help reduce the arsenic content significantly. (7) So if you want to keep white rice as a part of your diet, I recommend looking for a safe brand like Lundberg and rinsing the rice thoroughly before cooking in a large quantity of water; this should be adequate to make rice a safe food to eat in moderation.
Brown rice: Not a health food!
Brown rice, on the other hand, has significantly more arsenic than white rice and should be avoided or consumed rarely.
Some of the brown rice brands tested contained at least 50% more than the safe limit per serving, and a few even had nearly double the safe limit. (PDF with complete details of test results) Note that some of the worst offenders for arsenic are made from brown rice: processed rice products like brown rice syrup, brown rice pasta, rice cakes and brown rice crisps. These processed products are commonly consumed by those following a “healthy” whole grain rich or gluten-free diet, but they clearly pose a significant risk of arsenic overexposure, especially if a person eats more than one serving per day. Obviously, brown rice is not a food that should be a dietary staple, or even eaten on a regular basis.
# Arsenic: another reason to prefer white rice over brown?
Aside from having a higher arsenic content, there are other reasons to avoid brown rice: it’s harder to digest and nutrient absorption is likely inferior to white rice because of phytates in the rice bran. (8) Despite a higher nutrient content of brown rice compared to white rice, the anti-nutrients present in brown rice reduce the bioavailability of any vitamins and minerals present. (9) Plus, brown rice also reduces dietary protein and fat digestibility compared to white rice. (10) In short, brown rice is not a health food for a variety of reasons, and a higher arsenic content is simply another reason to avoid eating it.
No food is completely safe or without some level of contamination risk: vegetables make up 24 percent of our arsenic exposure and tap water can legally contain 10 ppb arsenic per liter (some systems even exceed the legal limit.) (11) So while rice may contribute an unsafe level of arsenic, it’s certainly not the only source in our diet, and we need to be cautious about demonizing an entire class of food based on a soundbite from a news story. While I don’t think rice is a necessary component of a healthy diet, I do think it can be incorporated safely as a source of starch: just be sure to pay attention to the brand you’re buying, as well as your method of preparation.
Is rice a major staple in your diet?
Will you continue eating it, or is this arsenic report enough to put you off rice altogether?
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Unsafe level of arsenic in baby rice
“One third of baby rice on sale in British supermarkets contains an unsafe level of arsenic”, The Daily Telegraph reported, news that could potentially cause some concern among parents.
The newspaper said that some children could be receiving six times the amount of inorganic arsenic than they should be for their height and weight through eating rice products high in arsenic, as it is also commonly found in rice milk and puffed rice cereals.
Rice fields are regularly flooded and arsenic is naturally present in the soil. Subsequently the substance is present at a relatively high level in rice. High levels of arsenic are reportedly linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. Researchers in this study tested levels in 17 samples of three unnamed brands in British supermarkets and found that 35% of them contained high levels. The Food Standards Agency is reported as saying that there is no danger to infants, but that food regulations should be updated. There are currently EU and US legislations governing inorganic arsenic content allowable in water, but not in foods.
These findings may not be representative of other baby rice brands that were not tested, or of other products containing rice. This study also does not investigate or suggest there to be, increased levels of risk of any cancer from consuming these levels of inorganic arsenic in baby rice.
This research is likely to lead to further testing of food products and reconsideration of whether legislation needs to be introduced governing inorganic arsenic content of foods.
Where did the story come from?A commentary on the global health issue of inorganic arsenic in rice was written by Yong-Guan Zhu and Paul N. Williams at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Andrew A. Meharg at the University of Aberdeen.
With additional researchers, they also carried out a test of inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice. The study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China and The Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh.
The study and the narrative commentary were both published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal: Environmental Pollution.
What kind of scientific study was this?Inorganic arsenic is a toxic substance that occurs naturally in small amounts in the environment. It is known to be a chronic human carcinogen. Recent research has shown that, apart from people who are exposed to inorganic arsenic through drinking water, rice is the main source of it in the diet.
In the commentary, the researchers report that 50% of global cereal consumption is rice, and that half of the world’s population is reliant upon it for nourishment. The flooded fields in which rice is grown promote higher uptake of arsenic from the soil and cause levels 10 times that found in other cereals such as wheat and barley.
Although most EU countries, the US and China have legislation governing maximum allowable levels of inorganic arsenic in water, there are no such legislations for food. Consequently, people who frequently consume rice may regularly consume much higher than the permitted levels in water.
Unprocessed rice has a stiff outer layer called the husk, an inner layer called the bran that is brown in colour, and a white seed at the centre. White rice has the bran layer removed while brown rice retains some or all of the bran layer. Due to inorganic arsenic being localised in the bran layer, brown rice may have much higher levels than polished, white rice. Vegan and macrobiotic diets which include brown rice, rice milk, miso, and rice malt as a sugar substitute, may therefore be expected to contain higher levels than other diets. Although it may be easy to remove inorganic arsenic from water, removing the arsenic incorporated into the rice husk may be harder. It is suggested that cooking the rice in high volumes of water free from arsenic may be beneficial, but to the detriment of nutrients. The researchers also suggest that, if were possible, it could be beneficial to grow rice in less flooded conditions in the paddy fields for at least part of the growing season.
The researchers also suggest that if body mass is used as a measure, infants and young children may regularly be exposed to higher levels of inorganic arsenic than adults.
The separately published research on inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice was a small cross-sectional study aimed at establishing the inorganic arsenic content in a range of UK-purchased baby rice samples. To do this, 17 samples of baby rice were obtained from supermarkets in Aberdeen in 2006. The samples included both organic and non-organic brands of baby rice. If possible, a sample from each of the three main brand manufacturers was obtained at each supermarket. Only pure baby rice was looked at, i.e. not any other products containing rice.
What were the results of the study? The researchers found that inorganic arsenic levels in the rice ranged from 0.06 to 0.16 milligrams per kilogram with an average (median) of 0.11 milligrams per kilogram. They say that these levels were high and that 35% of the products would be illegal for sale in China, which has a food limit of 0.15 milligrams per kilogram. There are no EU or US regulations on the levels of inorganic arsenic allowable in food. There are only regulations for water and WHO recommends no more than two micrograms of inorganic arsenic per kilogram of body weight.
When the researchers calculated how much inorganic arsenic could be consumed by infants (defining an infant as a one-year-old baby of average weight eating 20 grams of rice per day) they found that the levels were higher than the maximum allowed exposure for adults in water.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?The researchers say that from their results ‘it is apparent that inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice should be of concern.’ They suggest that sourcing rice grain from low arsenic-impacted areas, such as parts of the Indian subcontinent or California may help, as might switching to more wheat, barley or oat-based foods.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?The word ‘arsenic’ automatically conjures up ideas of poison, but arsenic actually occurs naturally in soil and very small amounts of it in food and water are common and to some extent unavoidable. The main point of this study is that, as most rice is grown in flooded fields, the quantities of inorganic arsenic that are consumed could be higher than that which is allowed by water regulations. Legislation may therefore need to be reconsidered and changed accordingly.
It should be emphasised that baby food is not being ‘poisoned’ by arsenic being added to foods during any part of the manufacturing process. These results may not be representative of other baby rice brands than those tested, or other products containing rice, including adult rice. This study also does not investigate, or suggest there to be, increased levels of risk of any cancer from consuming these levels of inorganic arsenic.
This research is likely to lead to further testing of food products and reconsideration of whether legislation needs to be introduced governing the inorganic arsenic content of foods.
Sir Muir Gray adds... An important issue, with an urgent need for more research.
Links to the headlines 'One third of baby rice has arsenic'. The Daily Telegraph, April 30 2008
Arsenic in baby rice is a cancer risk, say scientists. The Guardian, April 30 2008
Alert over arsenic in your baby's food. Daily Express, April 30 2008
Links to the scienceZhu Y-G, Williams PN, Meharg AA.
Exposure to inorganic arsenic from rice: A global health issue?
Environmental Pollution [Article in press]
“One third of baby rice on sale in British supermarkets contains an unsafe level of arsenic”, The Daily Telegraph reported, news that could potentially cause some concern among parents.
The newspaper said that some children could be receiving six times the amount of inorganic arsenic than they should be for their height and weight through eating rice products high in arsenic, as it is also commonly found in rice milk and puffed rice cereals.
Rice fields are regularly flooded and arsenic is naturally present in the soil. Subsequently the substance is present at a relatively high level in rice. High levels of arsenic are reportedly linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. Researchers in this study tested levels in 17 samples of three unnamed brands in British supermarkets and found that 35% of them contained high levels. The Food Standards Agency is reported as saying that there is no danger to infants, but that food regulations should be updated. There are currently EU and US legislations governing inorganic arsenic content allowable in water, but not in foods.
These findings may not be representative of other baby rice brands that were not tested, or of other products containing rice. This study also does not investigate or suggest there to be, increased levels of risk of any cancer from consuming these levels of inorganic arsenic in baby rice.
This research is likely to lead to further testing of food products and reconsideration of whether legislation needs to be introduced governing inorganic arsenic content of foods.
Where did the story come from?A commentary on the global health issue of inorganic arsenic in rice was written by Yong-Guan Zhu and Paul N. Williams at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Andrew A. Meharg at the University of Aberdeen.
With additional researchers, they also carried out a test of inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice. The study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China and The Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh.
The study and the narrative commentary were both published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal: Environmental Pollution.
What kind of scientific study was this?Inorganic arsenic is a toxic substance that occurs naturally in small amounts in the environment. It is known to be a chronic human carcinogen. Recent research has shown that, apart from people who are exposed to inorganic arsenic through drinking water, rice is the main source of it in the diet.
In the commentary, the researchers report that 50% of global cereal consumption is rice, and that half of the world’s population is reliant upon it for nourishment. The flooded fields in which rice is grown promote higher uptake of arsenic from the soil and cause levels 10 times that found in other cereals such as wheat and barley.
Although most EU countries, the US and China have legislation governing maximum allowable levels of inorganic arsenic in water, there are no such legislations for food. Consequently, people who frequently consume rice may regularly consume much higher than the permitted levels in water.
Unprocessed rice has a stiff outer layer called the husk, an inner layer called the bran that is brown in colour, and a white seed at the centre. White rice has the bran layer removed while brown rice retains some or all of the bran layer. Due to inorganic arsenic being localised in the bran layer, brown rice may have much higher levels than polished, white rice. Vegan and macrobiotic diets which include brown rice, rice milk, miso, and rice malt as a sugar substitute, may therefore be expected to contain higher levels than other diets. Although it may be easy to remove inorganic arsenic from water, removing the arsenic incorporated into the rice husk may be harder. It is suggested that cooking the rice in high volumes of water free from arsenic may be beneficial, but to the detriment of nutrients. The researchers also suggest that, if were possible, it could be beneficial to grow rice in less flooded conditions in the paddy fields for at least part of the growing season.
The researchers also suggest that if body mass is used as a measure, infants and young children may regularly be exposed to higher levels of inorganic arsenic than adults.
The separately published research on inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice was a small cross-sectional study aimed at establishing the inorganic arsenic content in a range of UK-purchased baby rice samples. To do this, 17 samples of baby rice were obtained from supermarkets in Aberdeen in 2006. The samples included both organic and non-organic brands of baby rice. If possible, a sample from each of the three main brand manufacturers was obtained at each supermarket. Only pure baby rice was looked at, i.e. not any other products containing rice.
What were the results of the study? The researchers found that inorganic arsenic levels in the rice ranged from 0.06 to 0.16 milligrams per kilogram with an average (median) of 0.11 milligrams per kilogram. They say that these levels were high and that 35% of the products would be illegal for sale in China, which has a food limit of 0.15 milligrams per kilogram. There are no EU or US regulations on the levels of inorganic arsenic allowable in food. There are only regulations for water and WHO recommends no more than two micrograms of inorganic arsenic per kilogram of body weight.
When the researchers calculated how much inorganic arsenic could be consumed by infants (defining an infant as a one-year-old baby of average weight eating 20 grams of rice per day) they found that the levels were higher than the maximum allowed exposure for adults in water.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?The researchers say that from their results ‘it is apparent that inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice should be of concern.’ They suggest that sourcing rice grain from low arsenic-impacted areas, such as parts of the Indian subcontinent or California may help, as might switching to more wheat, barley or oat-based foods.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?The word ‘arsenic’ automatically conjures up ideas of poison, but arsenic actually occurs naturally in soil and very small amounts of it in food and water are common and to some extent unavoidable. The main point of this study is that, as most rice is grown in flooded fields, the quantities of inorganic arsenic that are consumed could be higher than that which is allowed by water regulations. Legislation may therefore need to be reconsidered and changed accordingly.
It should be emphasised that baby food is not being ‘poisoned’ by arsenic being added to foods during any part of the manufacturing process. These results may not be representative of other baby rice brands than those tested, or other products containing rice, including adult rice. This study also does not investigate, or suggest there to be, increased levels of risk of any cancer from consuming these levels of inorganic arsenic.
This research is likely to lead to further testing of food products and reconsideration of whether legislation needs to be introduced governing the inorganic arsenic content of foods.
Sir Muir Gray adds... An important issue, with an urgent need for more research.
Links to the headlines 'One third of baby rice has arsenic'. The Daily Telegraph, April 30 2008
Arsenic in baby rice is a cancer risk, say scientists. The Guardian, April 30 2008
Alert over arsenic in your baby's food. Daily Express, April 30 2008
Links to the scienceZhu Y-G, Williams PN, Meharg AA.
Exposure to inorganic arsenic from rice: A global health issue?
Environmental Pollution [Article in press]
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