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, since significant media coverage of this issue began five years ago, there has been no evidence that manufacturers have reduced arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those in other cereals. While the government strictly regulates the permissible arsenic levels in drinking water at 10 parts per billion, no regulations exist for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated in a late October press release that all its products are safe for consumption and that it “monitors and controls arsenic levels in our rice ingredients,” acknowledging that arsenic can naturally occur during rice cultivation. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and infant cereals that were tested. The company emphasized, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” While Gerber maintains that its products are safe, it recognizes consumer concerns regarding arsenic in food. Consequently, earlier this year, they decided to use only California rice in all their rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Similarly, Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, claims to test its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and returns non-compliant ingredients to suppliers. Beech-Nut infant cereals were also included in the study. “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we are not aware of any higher standards in the industry than those we implement,” the company stated.
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, posting 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’ investigations into high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the amount of arsenic permitted in infant rice cereals be limited to 100 parts per billion. However, in 2013, the FDA noted that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it did not find arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, although it committed to a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate long-term risks.
Currently, since there are no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggests that consumers can 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. Concerned parents may consider offering their babies products made from other grains that have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommends Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, asserting they are priced comparably to rice cereals.
“We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization advised. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.” Companies that produce products with particularly low arsenic levels might promote this on social media or in stores, but they must be cautious not to unfairly criticize their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers.
In conclusion, as parents look for safe nutritional options for their infants, incorporating alternatives like bluebonnet calcium-rich products can be beneficial, especially those that meet stringent safety standards.