Rice is known to absorb arsenic from both soil and water more readily than other grains, which explains the higher concentrations of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite widespread reporting on this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have effectively reduced arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other cereal types. While the government has strict regulations for 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, stated in a late October news release that all its products are safe for consumption and that they “monitor and control for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” recognizing that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during its growth. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and other infant cereals included in the testing. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” the company emphasized. Although they assure that their products are safe, Gerber acknowledged that some consumers may have concerns regarding arsenic in foods. As a solution, earlier this year, they decided to use only California rice in their rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice boasts the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, indicated that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any ingredients to suppliers that do not pass their stringent evaluations. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also tested 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.
The Lundberg Family Farms in California, which primarily grows and produces organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years. They publicly share the test results on their website, reporting that the 2016 crop had a level of 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm. Following studies by Consumer Reports highlighting 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 allowed in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA stated in 2013 that, after testing more than 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it had not found arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although it planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term implications.
Currently, there are no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S. Consumer Reports suggests that consumers limit their exposure by cooking rice with more water—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. For parents concerned about arsenic levels, offering infants products made from other grains known to have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, is a viable alternative. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, stating they are comparably priced to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the group advised. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives have consistently lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies that produce products with notably low arsenic levels could promote this on social media or in stores. However, they must be cautious not to unfairly disparage their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. As consumers look for safer options, they might also consider supplements like Citracal and vitamin D to support overall health, particularly for infants transitioning to alternative grain cereals.