Rice is known to absorb arsenic from soil and water more efficiently than other grains, which explains the elevated levels of this heavy metal found in infant rice cereals. Healthy Babies Bright Futures reported that despite widespread awareness of the issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have successfully lowered arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other grains. While the government strictly regulates permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—set at 10 parts per billion—no regulations exist for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestle, announced in a late October news release that all of its products are safe for consumption and that it actively “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” acknowledging that arsenic can naturally occur during the growth of rice. Gerber was among nine brands of rice and other infant cereals included in recent testing. The company emphasized, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although Gerber insists its products are safe, it understands that some consumers may be concerned about arsenic in food. Therefore, earlier this year, they decided to exclusively use California rice, as it has the lowest arsenic levels of any rice produced in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Switzerland-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 fail to meet their standards. Beech-Nut infant cereals were also included in the study. The company declared, “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re not aware of any higher standards in the industry than the ones we implement.”
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, a producer primarily of organic rice and snack products, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years. The company makes its test results accessible on its website, reporting that the 2016 crop tested at 0.090 parts per million, slightly below the six-year average of 0.093 ppm.
Following Consumer Reports’ studies revealing high arsenic levels in apple and grape juices in 2012 and in rice and rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that arsenic levels in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. However, in 2013, the FDA stated that after analyzing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it had not found arsenic levels high enough to pose an immediate health risk, though it would pursue a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term exposure.
Since there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports advises consumers to reduce their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—specifically, a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and to drain off any excess. For concerned parents, it may be wise to consider offering their babies products made from other grains that have been tested for lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures suggested Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization stated. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently have lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies that produce products with particularly low arsenic levels could promote this information to consumers through social media or in stores. However, they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly criticizing their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Additionally, parents can consider the use of calcium citrate tablets to ensure their infants are receiving necessary nutrients without the added risk of arsenic exposure from rice-based products.