In case you haven’t heard, this consumer report in September revealed that there are alarming levels of arsenic, a potent carcinogen, in rice right now.
Here are the key bullet points of interest from the report (italics mine):
- White rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas, which account for 76 percent of domestic rice, generally had higher levels of total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in our tests than rice samples from elsewhere.
- Within any single brand of rice we tested, the average total and inorganic arsenic levels were always higher for brown rice than for white.
- People who ate rice had arsenic levels that were 44 percent greater than those who had not, according to our analysis of federal health data. And certain ethnic groups were more highly affected, including Mexicans, other Hispanics, and a broad category that includes Asians.
- Reducing arsenic in food is feasible. We examined the efforts of two food companies, including Nature’s One, trying to tackle the problem and learned about methods being used to try to reduce arsenic in products.
- Based on these findings, our experts are asking the Food and Drug Administration to set limits for arsenic in rice products and fruit juices as a starting point.
While you may be swearing off Asian and Mexan food now, keep in mind that rice is a key ingredient in many products including rice milk, toddlers’ formula, cereal bars, energy products, and many Gluten Free snacks that substitute rice for wheat.
Wow-wee. Is there anything else left to eat these days?! Ok- since Gluten and Rice are both now on my Do-Not-Eat list, I shall stick to potatoes, tapioca, and oats to get my starch fix!
In the meantime, if you are feeling frustrated and would like to do something about this matter, you can sign this petition to ask the FDA and EU to set arsenic levels in rice.
[…] more you read about food, the less edible choices there seem to be! Between Arsenic in Rice (see here), GMOs (see here), Growth Hormones in diary (see here), sky rocketing gluten problems (see here), […]