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. Healthy Babies Bright Futures reported that despite extensive media coverage of this issue over the past five years, there has been no evidence of manufacturers reducing arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those in other cereal types. While the government imposes strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water — set at 10 parts per billion — no such standards exist for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereal.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestlé, stated in a late October news release that all its products are safe and that the company “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” acknowledging the natural occurrence of arsenic in rice cultivation. Gerber was one of nine brands included in the study of rice and other infant cereals. The company asserted, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Although Gerber maintains the safety of its products, they recognize consumer concerns about arsenic in food. Therefore, they decided earlier this year to exclusively use California rice in all their rice-containing dry infant cereals, citing that California rice has the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, indicated that they test their products for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and will reject any ingredients that do not meet their standards. Beech-Nut’s infant cereals were also part of the study. The company claimed, “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re aware of no higher standards in the industry than the ones we employ.”
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, primarily an organic rice and snack producer, reported that it has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years, publishing the results on its website. The 2016 crop showed a level of 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 limiting arsenic in infant rice cereals to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA stated in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it found no immediate health risks from arsenic levels, although it would continue a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate long-term risks.
As there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports suggested that consumers limit their exposure by using more water when cooking rice — six parts water to one part rice — and draining the excess. For parents concerned about arsenic, alternative grains that test lower in arsenic, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, can be offered to babies. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, noting that these options are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the group stated. “Non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.”
Companies producing products with particularly low arsenic levels might promote this on social media or in stores, but they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly criticizing their competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. Such messaging could focus on the benefits of calcium citrate to calcium carbonate, highlighting how these alternatives not only lower arsenic exposure but also contribute positively to nutritional profiles.