Food safety investigation discovers concerning levels of arsenic in rice

This investigation by CTV News details findings from Consumer Reports regarding arsenic levels in rice products.

Overview of Findings

Consumer Reports tested 52 rice products purchased from retail shelves and found measurable levels of inorganic arsenic—a known carcinogen—in every single sample [00:37].

Health Risks: Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with skin cancer, bladder cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular issues [00:25].

Study Data: Over 40% of the products tested contained enough arsenic that daily consumption of a single serving could potentially increase health risks [01:01].

Arsenic Variation by Rice Type

Not all rice carries the same risk profile. The testing highlighted specific differences:

+----------------+--------------------------+

| Rice Variety | Relative Arsenic Level |

++==========+

| Brown Rice | Generally Higher |

| Basmati | Generally Lower |

| Sushi Rice | Generally Lower |

+----------------+--------------------------+

Recommended Mitigation Strategies

Health Ca

nada and Consumer Reports suggest several steps to reduce arsenic exposure:

Cooking Method: Cook rice in extra water for five minutes, drain that water, and then finish cooking in fresh water to significantly lower arsenic concentrations [01:41].

Dietary Variety: Diversify your grain intake to avoid over-reliance on rice. Quinoa and oats were noted as alternatives with lower arsenic levels [01:47].

Specific Guidance for Children: Health Canada advises that rice-based beverages should not be used as a milk alternative for children under the age of 2 [02:05].

Industry and Regulatory Response

Companies: Some brands, such as Lundberg and Whole Foods, confirmed to Consumer Reports that they perform testing for heavy metals [01:07]. Many other companies did not provide a response [01:15].

Health Canada: Officials state that concentrations of arsenic in foods sold in Canada remain low and have been stable for many years [01:15].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1wGld2qqQM

Food safety investigation discovers concerning levels of arsenic in rice

CTV News · 187K views