Rice tends to absorb arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains, which explains the elevated levels of this heavy metal often found in infant rice cereals. According to Healthy Babies Bright Futures, despite extensive reporting on this issue over the past five years, there has been no evidence that manufacturers have successfully lowered arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those found in other cereal types. While the government imposes strict regulations on permissible arsenic levels in drinking water—set at 10 parts per billion—there are currently no established regulations for inorganic arsenic levels permitted in infant rice cereal.
In a news release from late October, Gerber Products, a Nestle subsidiary, affirmed that all its products are safe for consumption and that they actively monitor and control arsenic levels in their rice ingredients, which can naturally occur during cultivation. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and infant cereals tested for arsenic. The company stated, “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected.” Acknowledging consumer concerns about arsenic in food, Gerber announced earlier this year that it would exclusively use California rice in its rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice is known for having the lowest arsenic levels in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of the Swiss-based Hero Group, also conducts rigorous testing for up to 255 pesticides and heavy metals, including arsenic, and returns any non-compliant ingredients to suppliers. The company has been testing ingredients for heavy metals since 1985 and maintains that their standards are among the highest in the industry. Their infant cereals were included in the same study.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, a producer primarily of organic rice and snacks, has been testing inorganic arsenic levels in its rice for the past six years and publishes the results on its website. 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 rice products in 2014, the FDA recommended in 2016 that arsenic levels in infant rice cereals be capped at 100 parts per billion. Nevertheless, in 2013, the FDA stated that after testing over 1,300 rice samples, it did not find arsenic levels high enough to present an immediate health risk, although it committed to a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term exposure.
As there are currently no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S., Consumer Reports advises consumers to mitigate their exposure by using more water when cooking rice—suggesting a ratio of six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess water. Concerned parents might also consider offering their babies products made from grains with lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa. Healthy Babies Bright Futures specifically recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, which are priced comparably to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization stated, emphasizing that non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently exhibit lower arsenic contamination and are healthier choices.
While companies could promote their products with particularly low arsenic levels on social media or in retail settings, they must tread carefully to avoid unfairly criticizing competitors, especially since the FDA has not identified an immediate health risk to consumers. As parents consider the best options for their babies, they might also look into supplements like the best calcium citrate supplement 2022, which can provide essential nutrients while avoiding the concerns associated with arsenic in rice cereals.