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Arsenic in rice: Part II—How to cut your risk 11/12 (This article is adapted from the November 2012 Consumer Reports magazine.) Part I—Test results | Part II—How to cut your risk | Part III—Tracing the sources of arsenic
Change the way you cook rice You may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking, using a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice for cooking and draining the excess water afterward. That is a traditional method of cooking rice in Asia. The modern technique of cooking rice in water that is entirely absorbed by the grains has been promoted because it allows rice to retain more of its vitamins and other nutrients. But even though you may sacrifice some of rice's nutritional value, research has shown that rinsing and using more water removes about 30 percent of the rice's inorganic arsenic content. Eat a varied diet Some vegetables can accumulate arsenic when grown in contaminated soil. To help, clean vegetables thoroughly, especially potato skins. Some fruit juices such as apple and grape juice are high in arsenic, as our previous tests showed. To prevent obesity and tooth decay, pediatricians advise that infants younger than 6 months shouldn't drink juice; children up to age 6 should have no more than 4 to 6 ounces a day and older children no more than 8 to 12 ounces. Like grape juice, wine also can be a source of exposure, according to data collected in the FDA's Total Diet Study, which provides more complete information about arsenic content in a variety of foods. See fda.gov "total diet study analytical results." Limit rice cereals for pregnant women, infants, and children Pregnant women and parents of infants and young children can reduce arsenic risks. Consumer Reports recommends that babies eat no more than 1 serving of infant rice cereal per day on average. And their diets should include cereals made of wheat, oatmeal, or corn grits, which contain significantly lower levels of arsenic, according to federal information. For children and pregnant women, risks are heightened. Keeve Nachman, Ph.D., a risk scientist at the Center for a Livable Future in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says, “The more we learn about arsenic’s additional effects on the developing brain, the more concerned I am by these levels of arsenic being found in infant and toddler rice cereal.” According to federal data, some infants eat up to two to three servings of rice cereal a day. Eating rice cereal at that rate, with the highest level of inorganic arsenic we found in our tests, could result in a risk of cancer twice our acceptable level. For pregnant women, “This is a time when cells are differentiating into organs and many other important developmental things are going on, so getting exposed to a toxicant like arsenic in utero or during early childhood can cause damage that may not appear until decades later,” says Michael Waalkes, laboratory chief at the Division of the National Toxicology Program. He is one of the authors of a June 2012 report funded in part by the National Institutes of Health that concluded early life exposure to arsenic produces a wide range of cancers and other diseases. No rice drinks for children under 5 Rice drinks in the tests showed inorganic arsenic levels of up to 4.5 micrograms per serving. Based on those results, Consumer Reports scientists advise that children under the age of 5 should not have rice drinks as part of a daily diet. In the United Kingdom, children younger than 4½ years are advised against having rice milk because of arsenic concerns. Experiment with other grains Vary your grains, especially if you eat more than two or three servings of rice per week. Though not arsenic-free, wheat and oats tend to have lower levels than rice. And quinoa, millet, and amaranth are among other options for those on a gluten-free diet, though they have not been studied as much.
Test your water If your home is not on a public water system, have your water tested for arsenic and lead. To find a certified lab, contact your local health department or call the federal Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. What the government and industry should do After Consumer Reports released its test results on arsenic in rice in September 2012, three members of Congress-- Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)-- said they are introducing the "R.I.C.E Act" to set federal limits the amount of arsenic permitted in rice and rice-based products. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Illinois Attorney General's office said that their own tests of rice and products such as infant rice cereals have detected the most toxic form of arsenic at levels that were consistent with Consumer Reports' results. Consumers Union believes a standard for arsenic should be set for rice, and industry should accelerate efforts to reduce arsenic levels in rice. They should also develop types of rice that take up less arsenic, and use rice with the lowest possible arsenic in products for young children, such as infant rice cereal. Scientists are also asking regulators to prohibit agricultural practices that may lead to increases in arsenic in rice: • The EPA should phase out use of pesticides containing arsenic.On the international stage, a group advising the World Health Organization is meeting in 2014 to consider proposed arsenic standards for rice. Limits of 200 ppb (inorganic) for white rice and 300 ppb (total or inorganic) for brown rice are under discussion. After the concerns raised by the juice story, the FDA says it is confident in the overall safety of apple juice. “FDA has made significant progress in developing a proposed action level for arsenic in apple juice and is nearing completion of this work,” the agency says in a statement. The FDA also says it is studying arsenic in rice and rice products to determine the level and types of arsenic typically found and to identify ways to reduce it. "We understand that consumers are concerned about this matter. That's why the FDA has prioritized analyzing arsenic levels in rice," said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D. The agency is analyzing a total of about 1,200 samples by the end of this year. “The need for a standard for arsenic in food is long overdue,” says Trudy Bialic, director of public affairs for PCC Natural Markets, a Seattle-area chain that is America’s largest food co-op. “Certainly there are excellent and committed people in FDA’s ranks, but it’s shameful the agency has not addressed this problem more systematically, leaving us to figure it out on our own to protect ourselves.” Related links Arsenic in rice: Part I—Test results; Part III—Tracing the sources of arsenic. 11/12 To find out more about what Consumers Union is doing on the subject and to get involved, go to ConsumersUnion.org/arsenic. FDA releases preliminary data on arsenic levels in rice and rice products [FDA] Download this PDF with complete details of the test results. New study finds arsenic in infant formula, cereal bars. 2/12 Consumer Reports discloses additional data from its arsenic tests. 12/11 Part I—Test results | Part II—How to cut your risk | Part III—Tracing the sources of arsenic |
