Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, which explains the higher levels of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite extensive media coverage of this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have decreased the arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those in other types of cereals. The government imposes strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water, capped at 10 parts per billion, yet no specific regulations exist for inorganic arsenic levels permitted in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a Nestlé subsidiary, stated in a late October press release that all its products are safe for consumption and that the company “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” recognizing that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during its growth. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals that underwent testing. The company emphasized, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although Gerber assures the safety of its products, it acknowledges consumer concerns regarding arsenic in food. Consequently, the company decided to use exclusively California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss Hero Group, reported that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any non-compliant ingredients to suppliers. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also tested in the study. The company stated, “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.” Meanwhile, California’s Lundberg Family Farms, which primarily produces organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years, posting the results on its website. The 2016 crop was tested at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ studies on 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 levels allowed in infant rice cereals be limited to 100 parts per billion. However, in 2013, the FDA indicated that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it had not found arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although it would continue with a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term effects.
As there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggested that consumers reduce 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 concerned parents, offering babies products made from other grains that have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, is a viable option. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommends Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are competitively priced compared to rice cereals. The organization advises, “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal. Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives have consistently lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies producing products with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this advantage to consumers on social media or in-store, but they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly disparaging their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Integrating calcium citrate and calcitriol K2-7 tablets into their product lines could also appeal to health-conscious consumers, as these supplements support overall health.