Did You Know About Toxic Arsenic in Rice?

Arsenic is a type of carcinogen.

Arsenic is extremely poisonous to humans.

Arsenic doesn’t have a taste or odor, so you can be exposed to it without knowing it.

“While arsenic is naturally occurring, it also comes in inorganic (or “man-made”) formulas. These are used in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing”- Healthline.

As per the Consumers Report:

“Arsenic has two chemical forms, inorganic and organic (the latter of which can be less toxic), and is naturally part of the minerals in the earth's crust”.

“Arsenic also has been released into the environment through the use of pesticides and poultry fertilizer. (Chickens can be fed arsenic.) Therefore, it's in soil and water. Rice tends to absorb arsenic more readily than many other plants”.

“Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic can increase the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Recent studies also suggest that arsenic exposure in utero may have effects on the baby's immune system”.

Which rice has less arsenic?

Check for the country and states it is coming from.

“White basmati rice from California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic-arsenic amount of most other types of rice.

All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating that it's from Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas or just from the U.S. had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in our tests.

For instance, white rice from California has 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rice from other parts of the country.

Brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan is the best choice; it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rice.

You may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in any type of rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking, using a ratio of 6 cups of water to 1 cup of rice, and draining the excess water afterward. That is a traditional method of cooking rice in Asia.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24236891/

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htm