Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, which explains the elevated levels of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite significant media coverage of this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have successfully lowered arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those in other cereal types. While the government imposes strict regulations on the permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—set at 10 parts per billion—there are currently no established guidelines for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated in a late October press release that all its products are safe for consumption. The company claims to “monitor and control for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” as arsenic can naturally occur in rice during cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals that underwent testing. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” Gerber emphasized. While they assert their products are safe, they acknowledge that some consumers may have concerns regarding arsenic in food. As a response, the company decided earlier this year to exclusively use California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereal, as this region has the lowest arsenic levels for rice grown in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, reported that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any ingredients that fail to pass inspection to their suppliers. Beech-Nut has been testing its ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, claiming that their standards are among the highest in the industry.
Lundberg Family Farms in California, primarily an organic rice and snack producer, has been testing the inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years. The results are published on their website, revealing that the 2016 crop tested at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm. Following Consumer Reports’ findings regarding high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the arsenic limit in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also stated in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 samples of rice and rice products, it found no arsenic levels posing an immediate health risk, although it would continue with a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate long-term risks.
With no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggested that consumers reduce their exposure by using more water while cooking rice—specifically, a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. Concerned parents can also choose 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 they noted are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization advised. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently exhibit lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies that produce products with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this fact to consumers via social media or in-store marketing. However, they must be cautious not to disparage their competitors unfairly, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Additionally, for those interested in health supplements, questions about whether calcium citrate makes you sleepy may arise as parents look for safe options in their children’s diets. It’s essential to consider the overall safety and well-being of infants when selecting food products, particularly those that are known to have higher arsenic levels.