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 widespread concerns raised about five years ago, there has been no indication that manufacturers have decreased the arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other cereal types. While the government imposes strict regulations on 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 Nestle, stated in a late October release that it ensures the safety of its products and actively monitors arsenic levels in its rice ingredients, as arsenic can naturally occur during the rice-growing process. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and infant cereals included in a recent study. The company asserted, “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 regarding arsenic in food. As a result, the company decided earlier this year to exclusively use California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereals, citing that California rice has the lowest arsenic levels among rice grown in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Switzerland-based Hero Group, emphasized that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will reject any ingredients that do not pass their stringent quality checks. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also part of the study. The company noted, “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re not aware of any higher standards in the industry than the ones we implement.”
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, primarily a grower and producer of organic rice and snack products, has been monitoring inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years, publishing the test results on its website. The 2016 crop showed an arsenic level of 0.090 parts per million, slightly lower than the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ investigations into high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012, as well as rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the permissible arsenic level in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also stated in 2013 that after analyzing over 1,300 samples of rice and rice products, it found no arsenic levels that posed an immediate health risk, although it planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate long-term exposure.
Since there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food items in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggested that consumers can reduce their exposure by cooking rice with a higher water-to-rice ratio—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 show lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures advised parents to choose Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization stated. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently exhibit lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier option.”
Companies that manufacture products with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this information to consumers via social media or in-store displays. However, they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly criticizing their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Parents concerned about how much calcium citrate is too much in their babies’ diets should also be mindful of the overall nutritional balance when selecting alternatives to rice cereals.