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 extensive coverage of this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have successfully lowered arsenic levels in rice cereals to align with those found in other cereal varieties. 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 in infant rice cereals.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, announced in a late October press release that all its products are safe for consumption, and that it actively monitors its rice ingredients for arsenic, acknowledging that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and infant cereals tested. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” the company stated. While emphasizing the safety of its products, Gerber recognized consumer concerns regarding arsenic in food. Consequently, it decided to exclusively use California rice in all its dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, reported that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will reject any ingredients that fail to meet their standards. The company has been conducting heavy metal tests since 1985 and claims to adhere to the highest standards in the industry. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also included in the study.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, primarily an organic rice and snack producer, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years, sharing 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 on high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012, as well as in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 limiting arsenic levels in infant rice cereals to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA reported in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 samples, it had not discovered arsenic levels posing an immediate health risk, although it planned a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term implications.
Since the U.S. currently has no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products, Consumer Reports advised consumers to reduce their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—suggesting a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. Concerned parents may also consider offering their babies products made from other grains that test for 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 stated. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives have consistently lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
While companies that produce products with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this advantage on social media or in stores, they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly disparaging competitors, particularly since the FDA has not deemed there to be an immediate health risk to consumers. Furthermore, parents looking for dietary options with added benefits may consider products fortified with calcium citrate plus vitamin D, which can be beneficial for overall health and can serve as a nutritious alternative to rice-based products.