Rice has a higher capacity to absorb arsenic from soil and water compared to other grains, which explains the elevated levels of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. Healthy Babies Bright Futures reported that since significant media attention began approximately five years ago, there has been no indication that manufacturers have lowered 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 regulations for inorganic arsenic levels permitted in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated in a late October press release that all of its products, including those containing iron supplements like 500mg calcium citrate chews, are safe for consumption. They emphasized that they “monitor and control for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” acknowledging that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals included in a recent study. The company asserted, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although they claim their products are safe, Gerber recognizes that some consumers may be concerned about arsenic in food. Consequently, they decided to exclusively source California rice for all their rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice is known to have the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, stated that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any ingredients that fail to meet their standards. Beech-Nut infant cereals were also included in the study. The company mentioned, “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.”
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, which primarily grows and produces organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years and posts the results on its website. The 2016 crop showed levels at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ investigations into high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the allowable arsenic level in infant rice cereals be limited to 100 parts per billion. However, in 2013, the FDA stated that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it did not find arsenic levels high enough to present an immediate health risk, although the agency intended to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term implications.
As the U.S. currently lacks federal arsenic standards for rice and other food items, Consumer Reports advised consumers to mitigate their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and to drain the excess. Concerned parents can also consider providing their babies with products made from other grains that exhibit 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, stating that they are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the group advised, noting that non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier option.
Companies that produce products with particularly low arsenic levels might highlight this fact to consumers through social media or in-store promotions, but they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly disparaging their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers.