Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, which is why higher concentrations of this heavy metal are often found in infant rice cereals. Healthy Babies Bright Futures reported that despite increased 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 cereal types. While the government has set strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—capped at 10 parts per billion—there are currently no established limits for inorganic arsenic levels permitted in infant rice cereals.
In a news release from late October, Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestle, assured consumers that all of its products are safe to eat and that it “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” as arsenic can naturally occur during rice cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals that participated in testing. The company stated, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although Gerber confirmed the safety of its products, they acknowledged that some consumers might be concerned about arsenic in foods. As a result, they decided earlier this year to use exclusively California rice in all their rice-containing dry infant cereals, citing California’s lower arsenic levels compared to other U.S. rice-growing regions.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, also emphasizes its commitment to safety, stating that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic. If any ingredient fails these tests, it is returned to the supplier. The company has been testing its ingredients for heavy metals since 1985 and claims to follow the highest standards in the industry.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, primarily an organic rice and snack producer, has been monitoring inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for six years, sharing the results on its website. The 2016 crop recorded a level of 0.090 parts per million, slightly below their six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
In response to Consumer Reports’ findings on high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012, as well as in rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 limiting arsenic levels in infant rice cereals to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also noted in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, they had not detected arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although they planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term exposure.
Since there are no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggested that consumers can reduce their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. Concerned parents might also 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 has recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are priced comparably to rice cereals.
The organization advises parents to avoid infant rice cereal, noting that non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination, making them a healthier option. Companies producing products with especially low arsenic levels could promote this on social media or in stores but must be cautious not to unfairly criticize competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers.
Lastly, for parents seeking alternatives that are not only low in arsenic but also beneficial for overall nutrition, products like calcium citrate from Walmart could be considered, as they provide essential nutrients without the added risk associated with rice cereals.