This new data and guidelines, provided by the are important for everyone, especially for people who are gluten intolerant. The original report on arsenic in rice was published in 2012, by Consumer Reports, in which they found measurable levels in almost all of the 60 rice varieties and rice products they’ve tested. Consumer Reports’ most recent testing and analysis will give us some new information on the risk of arsenic exposure in infants and children through rice cereal and other rice products. Consumer Reports’ team of experts looked at data released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products.
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And, they’ve found that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic—a carcinogen, compared to the 2012 study. According to the results of their new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice, which they should have in 1 week. They also found that 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.
Consumer Reports, in their 2012 study recommended that babies shouldn’t eat more than one serving of infant rice cereal per day, on average, and that their diets should include cereals made from other grains. They didn’t find any reason to change this advice based on our new analysis. Consumer Reports shared the results of this study with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and asked for opinion. So, the agency reiterated its recommendation that everyone, including pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. The FDA re commended that they 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
First, you should know that 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. And don’t confuse the organic term. In this article, 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. This is why you can find this compound in the 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. A recent study has found that arsenic exposure in utero may have effects on the baby’s immune system. They’ve also found 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 food safety experts believe those levels do carry a risk.
The real and ugly truth is that there is no federal limit for arsenic in rice and rice products. The FDA has proposed a “action level” for arsenic in juice. Many medical experts think that the FDA should set one, and the agency responded:
“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
These are the 2 most common questions Consumer Reports got after their study:
- Are there any types of rice that are lower in arsenic?
- Do other grains, such as quinoa, contain arsenic, too?
These are the answers:
The Consumer Reportsstated that their scientists at their Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested more than 128 samples of basmati, jasmine, and sushi rice for arsenic. So, they combined the data with the results of the 2012 tests and FDA data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice. They also mentioned that they’ve looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of non-rice grains.
The food safety experts at the Consumer Reports also found 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. They’ve also found that you should treat those specific rices from those areas differently from other types of rice and rices grown in other regions. Based on their data, they’ve 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. Note: adults – up to 4½ servings per week; and children – 2¾ servings.Consumer Reportsalso found that all types of rice 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 example, white rices from California have 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.
According to their study, brown rice has 80 % 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. They also said that brown rice 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
Consumer Reportshas found that the gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet, and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. They’ve also found that bulgur, barley, and faro, 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
This is very important – Consumer Reports said that you may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in any type of rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking You should use this ratio: 6 cups water to 1 cup rice, and draining the excess water afterward. They say that this 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 week
Consumer Reports recommends that you shouldn’t get more than 7 points per one week. Risk analysis is based on weight, so a serving of any food will give children more points than adults. We really hope you find this article helpful and don’t forget to share it with your friends and family. Thank You.