October 12, 2012

Background on Arsenic in Rice & Comments on the Consumer Reports Article




The arsenic content of rice is highly variable.  It depends on the way that rice is grown and on the type of rice.  The Consumer Reports (CR) data on arsenic in rice are consistent with reports in the scientific literature.  The CR data confirms that both total and inorganic arsenic in rice from different batches of the same brand are variable. This is because rice coming from different fields or farms can contain different levels and forms of arsenic which can also vary from year to year. There is no USA standard for either total or inorganic arsenic in food so rice distributors and retailers do not consider arsenic level when selling products.