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A recent report, published by non-profit children’s health organisation Healthy Babies Bright Futures, has found that 100% of 145 rice samples tested contained arsenic, with more than one in four samples exceeding the FDA’s safety limit for infant rice cereal.

Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal associated with health risks such as cancer and harm to brain development. Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF)’s report is said to be the first in-depth look at arsenic contamination across a range of popular US rice types in ten years.

Why rice?

While traces of heavy metals are frequently found across many different food types due to their presence in the environment and during food processing, HBBF noted that rice stands out as a particular concern due to its relatively high arsenic levels and frequent consumption. Rice accumulates more arsenic from the soil than any other staple crop, and is the leading source of arsenic exposure from solid foods for children up to age two.

Over one in four of the samples, across both brown and white rice varieties, exceeded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s action level for arsenic in infant rice cereal – a level above which products can be considered contaminated. This means that homemade rice cereal made for babies at home could contain arsenic levels that would be considered unsafe if sold in stores.

HBBF’s testing found four toxic heavy metals in rice: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. The highest levels were detected in brown and white rice grown in the south east US, or labelled simply as ‘USA’ and in arborio rice from Italy.

In contrast, three rice types stood out as safer for families, with average heavy metal levels 32% lower than other samples: California-grown rice, Thai jasmine and Indian basmati. A saffron-seasoned rice contained lead levels up to 32 times higher than the average for other samples, raising concern about potential contamination from the added spice.

Impact on families

HBBF noted that arsenic in rice disproportionately affects Hispanic and Asian children, with federal dietary surveys showing that rice contributes a significantly higher share of daily arsenic exposure for these children – up to seven times more than for other children. HBBF has partnered with GreenLatinos, Gum Moon and 14 other non-profit organisations nationwide to gain a better understanding of how these communities are impacted. Among the families surveyed, one in three said rice is either a frequent main dish or the single most important food in their diet.

In addition to testing rice, the organisation tested 66 samples of nine alternative grains, including quinoa, farro and barley, which contained 69% less heavy metal contamination than rice on average. However, HBBF pointed out that alternative grains cost five times more than rice on average, and tariffs are likely to significantly worsen affordability of safer rice varieties, with a 10% tariff now in effect and higher tariffs (36% for Thai jasmine rice and 26% for Indian basmati) to begin in July.

Their investigation also found that rice labelled as California-grown, a lower-arsenic option, tended to cost more than rice from other regions. This leaves low-income families most at risk for high arsenic levels in the food they eat, with high-arsenic rice varieties potentially being the only affordable choice.

Gloria Tan, executive director of Gum Moon in San Francisco, said: “Millions of families rely on rice as an everyday food. Not only do babies in the Asian community eat rice every day, but so do pregnant mothers. Rice that exceeds the FDA’s action level for infant rice cereal should not be allowed on store shelves.”

What can be done?

HBBF called on the FDA to establish caps for arsenic and cadmium in rice, with rice that exceeds the agency’s current action level for infant rice cereal (100 ppb inorganic arsenic) – or contains cadmium levels well above typical amounts – to be removed from store shelves.

It also recommends that the FDA permit the use of the claim ‘Meets FDA health guidelines for infant rice cereal’ on packaging, with representative samples of each lot to be tested in order for companies to qualify and results to be posted online. This would help parents to avoid rice with excessive arsenic levels, HBBF stressed. It emphasised that testing and public posting of results should be required by law to ensure accountability and empower parents.

While further FDA limits would incentivise industry-wide change, HBBF noted in its report that there are promising moves food manufacturers and farmers can make to reduce arsenic and cadmium levels in rice and rice-based foods, even before the FDA takes action.

Food manufacturers can significantly reduce arsenic levels in rice-based prepared foods, such as infant formula and snacks, by pre-cooking the rice in continuously refreshed water, similar to percolation methods, HBBF said. Alternatively, around 80% reduction of arsenic and cadmium can be achieved by pre-soaking rice in two common food additives – citric acid and calcium carbonate.

Recent research also suggests that strategically timing field wetting and drying cycles, along with careful management of soil moisture, fertiliser application and other factors, could help growers to minimise both cadmium and arsenic levels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.