“Arsenic Concerns in Infant Rice Cereals: Industry Response and Health Recommendations”
Rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, which explains the elevated levels of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. Healthy Babies Bright Futures reported that despite heightened awareness of this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have reduced arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other cereals. While the government enforces strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—set at 10 parts per billion—there are currently no established limits for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.
In a late October announcement, Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated that all its products are safe for consumption, emphasizing that it “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” as arsenic can naturally occur during the rice-growing process. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and infant cereals included in testing. The company asserted, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although their products are deemed safe, Gerber acknowledged that some consumers may have concerns regarding arsenic in food. Thus, it decided earlier this year to exclusively use California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, also tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any non-compliant ingredients to suppliers. Beech-Nut infant cereals were included in the study as well. “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re aware of no higher standards in the industry than the ones we employ,” the company stated.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, known for producing mainly organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years and publishes the results on its website. The 2016 crop was tested at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ findings about high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that arsenic levels in infant rice cereals be limited to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also indicated in 2013 that, after analyzing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it had not identified arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term exposure was underway.
Since the U.S. lacks federal arsenic standards for rice and other food products, Consumer Reports advised consumers to minimize exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and draining any excess. Concerned parents can consider offering their babies products made from other grains that have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization stated. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies that produce items with particularly low arsenic levels might highlight this on social media or in stores, but they must do so cautiously to avoid unfairly shaming competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers.
As a side note, for those curious about dietary supplements, citrate plays an essential role in calcium citrate. Specifically, citrate is the compound that helps enhance the absorption of calcium in the body, making calcium citrate a preferred option for many looking to increase their calcium intake. Understanding what citrate is in calcium citrate can help consumers make informed decisions about their dietary choices.
