Consumer Reports released consumption guidelines for consumer who want to reduce their exposure to inorganic arsenic in rice and again urged FDA to set standards for arsenic in rice-based foods. Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin, bladder and lung cancer as well as heart disease. FDA says the levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice are too low to cause any immediate or short-term adverse health effects. “All consumers, including pregnant women, infants and children, are encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet for good nutrition and to minimize potential adverse consequences from consuming an excess of any one food,” says FDA.
Along with a point system to limit rice consumption – an adult could eat nearly four cups of rice cereal a week, for instance – Consumer Reports said its tests found that white basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan and U.S.-grown sushi rice “on average has half the (inorganic arsenic) amount of most other types of rice.” India and Pakistan were the best choices for brown rice with lower amounts of inorganic arsenic.