Rice absorbs 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 extensive reporting on this issue began five years ago, there has been no evidence that manufacturers have successfully reduced arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other types of cereals. While there are strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—set at 10 parts per billion—there are currently no established guidelines for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated in a news release in late October that all of its products are deemed safe for consumption. The company emphasized that it “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” acknowledging that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during the growth cycle. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and infant cereals that underwent testing. The company asserted, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” While Gerber maintains the safety of its products, it recognizes that some consumers may be concerned about arsenic in food. Consequently, earlier this year, the company decided to exclusively use California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California has the lowest arsenic levels of any rice grown in the United States.
Beech-Nut, a brand under the Swiss-based Hero Group, stated that it tests its products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will return ingredients to suppliers if they do not meet their standards. Beech-Nut infant cereals were also included in the testing study. The company remarked, “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re aware of no higher standards in the industry than those we employ.”
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, a 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, revealing that 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 in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that the allowable amount of arsenic in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also mentioned in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it did not find arsenic levels high enough to present an immediate health risk, although the agency planned to proceed with a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate long-term risks.
Currently, since the U.S. lacks federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products, Consumer Reports has advised consumers to limit their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and draining off the excess. For concerned parents, alternatives made from other grains that exhibit lower levels of arsenic, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, can be offered to infants. Healthy Babies Bright Futures has recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, claiming they are priced comparably to rice cereals. “We advise parents to avoid infant rice cereal,” the group stated, emphasizing that non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are healthier choices.
Companies producing products with especially low arsenic levels could promote this fact to consumers on social media or in stores, but they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly disparaging competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Meanwhile, consumers interested in maintaining a balanced diet may consider supplementing their nutrition with calcium citrate oral tablet 950, which supports overall health and can be beneficial for both adults and children.