Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, leading to higher concentrations of this heavy metal 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 types of cereals. While the government has 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 cereals.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, asserted in a late October news release that its products are safe for consumption. The company stated that it “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients” due to the natural occurrence of arsenic in rice during cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals that were tested. The company emphasized, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although Gerber maintains that its products are safe, it acknowledges that some consumers may have concerns about arsenic in food. To address this, earlier this year, Gerber decided to exclusively use rice from California, which is known to have the lowest arsenic levels among U.S. rice.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, stated that it rigorously tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic. The company also noted that it returns any ingredient that fails to meet its standards. “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,” Beech-Nut claimed. The company’s infant cereals were also included in the testing.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, known for its organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years. The company publishes its test results online, reporting that the 2016 crop had an arsenic level of 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm. Following earlier studies by Consumer Reports regarding high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 limiting the arsenic content in infant rice cereals to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA stated in 2013 that, after analyzing over 1,300 samples of rice and rice products, it had not identified arsenic levels that posed an immediate health risk, although it planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term effects.
Currently, there are no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S. Consumer Reports has advised that consumers can reduce their exposure to arsenic by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. For parents concerned about arsenic, they might consider offering their babies products made from other grains that generally have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommends Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, noting that they are similarly priced 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 producing products with particularly low arsenic levels might promote this fact to consumers through social media or in-store marketing, but they must ensure they do not unfairly criticize their competitors, especially given the FDA’s finding that there is no immediate health risk to consumers. Additionally, these companies could highlight their commitment to ethical nutrition, ensuring that their products adhere to high safety and quality standards, including considerations for calcium citrate levels to support infant health.