Arsenic in Baby Food and Rice: How safe are they? (June 2014)
As consumers, when we hear about arsenic in rice and baby food we automatically panic and start thinking: What will we feed our babies? I wrote an article in July 2013 and I wanted to write a follow up to that article about arsenic and now its possible effects on baby food.
To refresh your memory, there are two forms of arsenic that exist in the food supply: inorganic and organic. Inorganic is the dangerous toxic form. Research shows that the rice grown in the central states, such as Arkansas where 50% of our rice comes from in the US, has a higher concentration of pesticide. This is due to the higher amounts or arsenic due to the long history of arsenic containing pesticide sprayed on cotton crops in that region. Brown rice has higher arsenic content as opposed to white rice because the arsenic is absorbed in the outer brain and germ layers of the rice grains.
As an American parent we feed our babies cream of rice as the first solid food. I wouldn’t panic just yet, as rice is a main grain (or other food that babies eat.?) In 2012, Consumer Reports disclosed reports of an analysis of rice products which has rice cereals containing inorganic arsenic. These reports showed that the infant rice cereals had five times or more the level of inorganic arsenic found in alternative grains.
Other than cream of rice infants consume puffed rice, stage 2 dinners that include rice and cookies that have rice. Researchers concluded that infants could consume up to two to three servings of rice per day, which is an amount that equals to a cancer risk twice their acceptable level. Researchers recommend babies consume no more than one serving of infant rice cereal and alternate with grits, oatmeal, quinoa porridge, cream of buckwheat. These hot cereals have lower arsenic values. I also suggest this for my adult clients too.
The health effects of arsenic exposure are unknown. One study amongst US children found that for every ¼ cup increase in cooked rice there was a 14% increase in urinary arsenic concentration. The FDA recommends parents alternate rice with other grains as I mentioned above. Some of my personal favorites include sorghum, barley, and farro.
Lastly, concerned parents may want to limit brown rice syrup or rice syrup as the first ingredient even if it says organic. It is important to not say that these are “forbidden foods”, but to have variety in your child’s diet. We always go into panic mode when we hear something in the media and trying to diversify in the most important step.
References: 1. Consumer Reports, November (2012)
2. Rice Consumption & Urinary Arsenic Concentration in US Children, Environmental Healthy Perspectives. MA Davis, (2012)
3. Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics – Amy Jamieson-Petonic RD “ Brown Rice Syrup may want to be limited/avoided”.
