Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, resulting in higher concentrations of this heavy metal in infant rice cereals. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite increased awareness of the issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have managed to reduce arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other 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 standards for inorganic arsenic levels allowed in infant rice cereals, including those containing tab calcium citrate malate.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, announced 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,” as arsenic can naturally occur in rice during cultivation. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and other infant cereals included in the studies. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” Gerber stated. “While our products are safe, we understand that some consumers may have concerns about arsenic in foods. Therefore, earlier this year, we decided to use only California rice in all our rice-containing dry infant cereals. We selected California rice because it has the lowest arsenic levels among rice grown in the United States.”
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, emphasized that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return any substandard ingredients to suppliers. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also included in the study. “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985 and are not aware of any higher standards in the industry than those we maintain,” the company stated.
Lundberg Family Farms, a California-based grower and producer of primarily organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years. The company shares its test results on its website, noting that the 2016 crop had a level of 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
After Consumer Reports highlighted high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and in rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the arsenic limit in infant rice cereals be set at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also indicated in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it had not found arsenic levels that posed an immediate health risk, although it pledged to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment regarding long-term exposure.
Since there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports has advised consumers to minimize their exposure by using a higher water-to-rice ratio when cooking—specifically six parts water to one part rice—and to drain off the excess water. For concerned parents, offering babies products made from other grains that have been tested for lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, is also an option. Healthy Babies Bright Futures has recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, stating they are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We advise parents to avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization said. “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 could promote this advantage to consumers on social media or in retail settings, but they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly disparaging competitors, especially given that the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers.