Toxic metals found in all rice samples in new report

A recent report reveals that rice sold in U.S. stores contains toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

The report—published by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures—indicates that arsenic was present in 100% of the rice samples tested from stores in 20 metro areas, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami, as reported by CBS News.

Additionally, 1 in 4 samples exceeded the FDA’s arsenic limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb) for infant rice cereal, a rule established in 2021 specifically for baby food and not for rice consumed by the general population.

The study examined 145 popular rice brands, including Trader Joe’s, Ben’s, and Goya, with total heavy metal levels ranging from 63 to 188 ppb on average and reaching as high as 240 ppb, according to CBS News. Arsenic was the most prevalent, followed by cadmium, with lower amounts of lead and mercury detected.

In response to the report, the U.S. Rice Federation acknowledged consumer concerns and stated their commitment to working with the FDA to meet safety thresholds.

The FDA and NIH caution that inorganic arsenic, found in elevated levels in this study, is more toxic than naturally occurring arsenic and is classified as a carcinogen by the EPA.

To reduce exposure, the report recommends three strategies:

1. Cook rice using the pasta method, using 6 to 10 cups of water per cup of rice and draining excess water before consumption.
2. Explore alternative grains with lower heavy metal content, such as quinoa, barley, and couscous.
3. Select rice varieties wisely, favoring white rice from California, sushi rice, Thai jasmine, and Indian Basmati, while avoiding brown rice, white rice from the Southeastern U.S., and arborio rice from Italy due to higher heavy metal levels.

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