what to do about
ARSENIC IN YOUR RICE

by
GLORIA GILBERE

____________________________________________

Gloria Gilbere is a health journalist and investigative reporter and author of 11 books including I Was Poisoned by My Body, Pain/Inflammation Matters, and Chemical Cuisine: Do you Really Know What You're Eating. This report first appeared in Total Health Magazine.

All major news agencies are reporting the latest warning about levels of arsenic in a food staple for most of the world -- rice. I’ve previously written blogs on this topic in order to particularly warn mothers to limit the amount of rice fed to infants and children. Now with another round of new findings and warnings, it’s important we take note and learn some precautions that could help reduce this carcinogenic toxic element in our food supply.

Scientifically speaking, arsenic is a naturally-occurring element unavoidably present everywhere in the environment for thousands of years -- it's in air, water, rocks and soil, which is how all plant foods, including rice, take it up, absorb it through its roots regardless of whether the farming method is conventional or organic. All plant foods unavoidably contain some level of arsenic.

FACTS

• People are exposed to trace amounts of arsenic every day.

• Recent studies by Consumer Reports warn that rice eaten just once a day can drive arsenic levels in the human body up 44 percent: consumed twice a day can lead to an increased concentration of arsenic that’s as high as 70 percent.

• According to Urvashi Rangan, director of consumer safety and sustainability at Consumer Reports, "We think that consumers ought to take steps to moderate their consumption."

• Consumer Reports tested many forms of rice for arsenic -- cereal for babies and adults, brown and white whole grain, pasta and drinks. More than 60 rice and rice products were tested overall, including name brands. Many contained what the researchers call "worrisome levels of arsenic" -- some products had up to five times higher levels than the arsenic previously found in oatmeal and one and a half times more than the EPA's legal standard for drinking water.

DIFFERENCES IN SOIL LEVELS

Geographical differences in soil arsenic levels were identified by researchers. Arsenic levels in white rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas contain higher levels than rice samples from other parts of the country. These four states account for 76 percent of domestic rice produced.

DEADLY CARCINOGEN

Inorganic arsenic is considered a level one carcinogen, linked to lung and bladder cancer. On September 19, 2012, the FDA announced it has concerns about rice and arsenic and is studying the issue, meanwhile, recommending a varied diet. This “let’s wait and see” attitude is fueling the fire of controversy for consumers and reporting agencies who monitor our food supply.

Consumer Reports questions why safe standards are not already in place when the facts have been identified. According to Rangan, "Foods really shouldn't be any different. As we look at the levels we're finding in these products there needs to be a standard set for these foods. We called for standards on apple juice in January; we're calling for that again in rice products today." His concerns refer to a January investigation of data released by the FDA of arsenic levels in apple and grape juice.

If you have any doubt that arsenic is toxic -- at any level -- below is a direct quote from the government’s own website on its position:

Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment as an element of the earth's crust. Arsenic is combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorin, and sulfur to form inorganic arsenic compounds. Exposure to higher-than-average levels of arsenic occurs mainly in workplaces, near or in hazardous waste sites, and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks, and water. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death. Exposure to arsenic at low levels for extended periods of time can cause a discoloration of the skin and the appearance of small corns or warts.

As a medical researcher-health detective, health professional, mother and grandmother I ask, “If our regulatory agencies acknowledge that low levels of exposure can cause outward manifestation on the skin, isn’t it long over-due to study exactly what it’s causing internally, including within the brain and that of developing fetuses?

BROWN OR WHITE RICE?

Health care practitioners recommend eating brown rice products rather than the carb-intense white rice for overall better health, especially those consumers limiting their carbs because of diabetes, yeast over-growth and other immune disorders. That said, when it comes to arsenic-containing foods, the less nutritional and higher in glycemic index white rice is actually healthier than the brown variety. Why? Because toxic levels of arsenic are most prevalent in the outer layers of the grain and white rice is polished, removing some of those layers.

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

According to Consumer Reports, consumption of rice products (whether organic or conventional) should be limited to one serving a day, especially for babies and those with compromised immunity.

You can, however, do your part to remove as much arsenic as possible by implementing the following:

• Rinse rice several times and cook in fresh water. I personally believe that the rinse water should contain some 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) I use for all vegetables to assist in removing residue of chemicals.

Add ¼ cup to water for rinsing any rice. Allow rice to sit in water mixture for about 15-20 minutes then rinse thoroughly several times before cooking.
For other vegetables, I use ½ cup H2O2 in a sink-full of water and soak veggies about 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly several times in cold water.

• Boil rice in a 6 to 1 water ratio which is said to remove approximately 30 percent of its arsenic content. Note: Reports are not clear as to how this cooking method affects cooking time but it does necessitate discarding excess fluid.

CAUTION

Current reports caution that children under the age of 5 should not be given rice drinks or rice snacks as part of their daily diet. "We're not saying never eat rice products, we’re saying its consumption should be very infrequent," stated Michael Hansen, senior scientist on the Consumer Reports study.

Although no products were named in the report, Nestle, the parent company of Gerber, said in an unsolicited statement to ABC News, "All Gerber products are safe to consume, including Gerber rice cereal and Gerber SmartNourish organic brown rice cereal." They specifically added that although they monitor arsenic levels, consumer concern led them to "exclusively use California rice in the production of our rice-containing infant nutrition products because California rice has the lowest naturally-occurring arsenic levels for rice grown in the United States." The USA rice federation does not dispute the findings, but says the results are overblown since there is no documented evidence of actual illness linked to rice. Sound familiar?

According to experts, rice contains more arsenic than other grains because it is grown while submerged in water. Arsenic does appear naturally in the earth, but Consumer Reports says levels have been increased by use of arsenic-laced fertilizers. Consumer Reports' scientists explain that arsenic is fed to chickens, turkey, and pigs, and their manure is used as fertilizer for rice and other crops.

The legal widespread use of arsenic through so many forms introduces it into our environment, our food supply and eventually into our bodies. It is beyond comprehension why our agencies whose responsibilities are to protect us still allow a “little bit of carcinogenic poison” to enter our food chain. Poison is Poison.

The aforementioned report follows a February Dartmouth report that found organic products containing brown rice syrup could also contain high arsenic levels.

The United States has established federal limits for arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion (ppb). However, when it comes to monitoring arsenic levels in most foods, it has not set limits.

Arsenic is naturally present in water, air, food and soil in two forms, organic and inorganic. According to the FDA, organic arsenic passes through the body quickly and is essentially harmless. Inorganic arsenic -- the type found in some pesticides and insecticides -- can be toxic and may pose a cancer risk if consumed at high levels or over a long period.

The FDA's analysis showed average levels of 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per serving, while Consumer Reports found levels up to 8.7 micrograms. The FDA released 200 samples, while Consumer Reports tested 223.

Inorganic arsenic is deadly at high doses -- a known carcinogen linked to a variety of human cancers, including skin, lung and bladder, as well as heart disease and other illnesses.

Organic arsenic is believed to be far less harmful, but two organic forms measured -- called DMA and MMA -- are classified as possible carcinogens, according to Consumer Reports.

Food is a major source of arsenic in the American diet. Beside being found in rice, it can be found in fruits, vegetables and seafood.

Consumer Reports' rice tests included multiple samples of more than 60 products, including white and brown rice, infant rice cereals, rice crackers, rice pasta and rice drinks. The group said it found varying but measurable amounts of total arsenic -- both inorganic and organic forms -- in samples of almost every product tested.

It is almost impossible to say how dangerous these levels are without a benchmark from the federal government. Consumer Reports uses New Jersey's drinking water standard -- a maximum of 5 micrograms in a liter of water -- as comparison because it is one of the strictest in the country. But it is unclear how accurate it is to compare arsenic levels in water and arsenic levels in rice. Most people consume more water than rice, so drinking water standards may need to be much tougher in view of new findings and concerns for long-term health risks.

How much organic and inorganic arsenic rice eaters are consuming, and whether those levels are dangerous, remains to be seen. I know one thing; I’ve limited my rice consumption and I’m using a lot of H2O2.

BALANCE

One thing I emphasize a great deal in consulting with clients is to constantly rotate the foods and supplements they consume because everything in life requires balance in order for our body to perform at its best. What I am advising is that we look closer at a balanced diet. Health Thrugh Education© is what I teach and practice. Armed with the knowledge of foods that have potential toxicity, you can choose how much exposure you’re willing to subject you and your family to.

Scientists have known for decades that arsenic is present in rice, but the issue has renewed interest as consumers are more interested than ever in what they eat, and that technology has advanced to the point that inorganic and organic arsenic can be measured separately.

 

YOUR COMMENTS

Email Address (not required)