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. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite reports on this issue surfacing over the last 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 enforces 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 cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestle, stated in a news release in late October that all their products are safe for consumption and that they “monitor and control for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” given that arsenic can naturally occur during rice cultivation. Gerber was among the nine brands of rice and other infant cereals evaluated. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” Gerber emphasized. “Although our products are safe to consume, we understand that some parents may be concerned about arsenic in foods. Therefore, earlier this year, we decided to exclusively utilize California rice in all our rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels among rice grown in the United States.”
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, announced that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any ingredients that do not meet their standards. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also included in the study. “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,” the company stated.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, known for its organic rice and snack products, has been assessing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years, posting the results on its website. The 2016 crop tested at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ findings of elevated arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the allowed arsenic level in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also noted in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 samples of rice and rice products, they did not find arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although they planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment regarding 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 minimize their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. For worried parents, offering babies products made from other grains that exhibit lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, is advisable. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommended 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 show lower arsenic contamination and represent a healthier choice.”
Companies that produce items with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this fact to consumers through social media or in-store advertising; however, they must be cautious not to disparage their competitors unfairly, especially since the FDA has not identified any immediate health risks to consumers. In addition, the use of calcitrate in their formulations could enhance the nutritional profile, providing further assurance to parents concerned about arsenic contamination.