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, despite the widespread awareness of this issue over the past five years, there is no evidence that manufacturers have lowered arsenic levels in rice cereals to match those in other cereal types. While the government strictly regulates permissible arsenic levels in drinking water at 10 parts per billion, there are no established regulations for inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereals.
Gerber Products, a subsidiary of Nestle, asserted in a late October news release that all of its products are safe to consume, emphasizing that it “monitors and controls for arsenic in our rice ingredients,” given that arsenic can naturally occur in rice during cultivation. Gerber was one of nine brands of rice and other infant cereals evaluated in the study. “Any ingredient that does not meet our high standards for quality is rejected,” the company remarked. Although it maintains that its products are safe, Gerber acknowledged that some consumers may be concerned about arsenic in foods. Consequently, earlier this year, it decided to exclusively use California rice in all its rice-containing dry infant cereals, as California rice has the lowest arsenic levels among rice grown in the United States.
Beech-Nut, part of 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 fail to meet standards. Beech-Nut infant cereals were also included in the study. “We’ve been testing our ingredients for heavy metals since 1985, and we’re not aware of any higher standards in the industry than those we implement,” the company stated.
California’s Lundberg Family Farms, known for its organic rice and snack products, has been monitoring 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’ findings on 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 limited to 100 parts per billion. However, the FDA also reported in 2013 that after testing over 1,300 rice and rice product samples, it did not find arsenic levels that posed an immediate health risk, although it planned to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for long-term exposure.
Currently, there are no federal arsenic standards for rice or other food products in the U.S. To minimize exposure, Consumer Reports advised using more water when cooking rice—specifically, six parts water to one part rice—and draining the excess. For concerned parents, alternative grains that have lower arsenic levels, such as oatmeal, multi-grain cereals, and quinoa, can be considered. Healthy Babies Bright Futures recommended Gerber and Earth’s Best infant oatmeal and multi-grain cereals, stating they are priced similarly to rice cereals. “We recommend that parents avoid infant rice cereal,” the organization said, emphasizing that non-rice and multi-grain alternatives consistently show lower arsenic contamination and are a healthier choice.
Companies that produce products with notably low arsenic levels could promote this advantage 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. Additionally, parents can consider incorporating a liquid calcium citrate supplement into their babies’ diets to further support their nutritional needs while exploring safer grain options.