Does rice contain arsenic? Yes, here's how you can reduce the risk

National Post

22-06-2025

Arsenic in rice isn't a new concern, but a recent report published by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) brought the issue back into the spotlight. The study found arsenic in all 145 rice samples bought at stores across the United States. More than a quarter surpassed 100 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic, the Canadian and American federal limits for infant rice cereal.
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'With all things to do with food safety, it comes down to reducing the risk of exposure,' says Lawrence Goodridge, a professor at the University of Guelph's Department of Food Science and director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety, who wasn't involved in the HBBF report. 'People can reduce their risk by consuming less of those foods.'
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Arsenic was 'the poison of choice in Victorian times,' says Keith Warriner, a professor at the University of Guelph's Department of Food Science, who wasn't involved in the HBBF report. It's also ubiquitous. 'The reality is, arsenic is everywhere. So it's not a case where you can avoid it.'
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Warriner underscores that people shouldn't stop eating rice altogether because of arsenic. After all, it's a staple of many cuisines with cultural significance and health benefits. 'It's a concern to have, but it's not 'I'm going to give up rice' because there are things we can do to minimize.'
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Here are ways to reduce the risk, from the rice you buy and how you cook it to diversifying your diet with grains lower in heavy metals such as arsenic.
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The more toxic of its chemical forms, inorganic arsenic is considered a carcinogen and is naturally present in soil and groundwater.
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Long-term exposure has been associated with an increased risk of health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and skin lesions. When exposure happens in utero or during childhood, it 'may affect development and increase the risk of cancer in adulthood,' according to Health Canada.
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Babies and young children are 'the real concern,' says Goodridge. The toxicity accumulates more easily because they're smaller and their body weight is lower.
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'Infant rice products can be a source of significant exposure,' he adds. 'It doesn't mean you can't give it to your kids, but limit it. It shouldn't be the primary grain cereal that they're fed. It shouldn't be the primary milk that they're given.'