Arsenic Found in Rice and Rice Products: FDA Issues a Statement on Testing and Analysis

This week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) looked into reports of Arsenic in rice and rice products and issued a statement based on testing and analysis by the agency and its partners.

According to the report, the FDA tested roughly 1300 samples of rice and rice products for the presence of arsenic. The testing was a continuation of testing in September 2012 in which the agency released the findings from 200 samples of arsenic contaminated rice.

In all of its testing, the FDA scientists found that the amount of arsenic in the rice and rice product samples was too low for concern over immediate or short-term adverse health effects.

The FDA does, however, plan to continue its analysis and monitoring of the arsenic levels to evaluate long-term exposure to very low amounts of arsenic in rice and rice products. This monitoring has been in place by the FDA for over 20 years now according to the agency, and the addition of new tools allows the FDA to also monitor for arsenic levels in other food products as well.

Because of the amount of rice cereals used in infant and baby foods, the FDA has issued advice for pregnant women, infants and children, related to the arsenic in rice issue. The FDA, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggest to eat a well-balanced diet, including a variety of foods, for good nutrition and to minimize potential adverse consequences from consuming an excess of any one food.