Printer-friendly version
East County News Service
April 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Earlier this month, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Society of Pediatrics have issued new guidelines for parents recommending limits on inorganic arsenic in rice baby foods. The FDA also recommends that parents feed babies a variety of cereals such as oatmeal and barley, but stops short of recommending eliminating of rice, a common first solid food for many young children.
Now, a study published by the journal JAMA Pediatrics on April 25th reports arsenic levels in babies who ate foods with rice or rice-based snacks had arsenic levels nearly double those of babies who did not eat rice products. The arsenic levels, measured in urine, increased with the amount of rice foods that the youngsters consumed, lead research Margaret Karagas at Dartmouth University’s Geisel School of Medicine in New Hampshire has said.
Arsenic is a carcinogen that causes cancer as well as contributing to heart disease. It can also affect a child’s immune system and intellectual development, according to the FDA and study authors.
Inorganic arsenic has also been found in apple juice and applesauce for infants due to pesticides sprayed on these crops. So mixing apple juice into rice cereal could amplify the exposure.
The study looked at 759 infants fed rice cereal, white or brown rice, foods made with rice, and foods sweetened with brown rice syrup.
Avoiding these products, or choose organic versions which by law cannot contain pesticides, are options for parents to protect their babies’ health. For those serving whole rice, which can absorb arsenic from pesticides, cooking the rice in excess water and draining off the liquid can reduce arsenic content by 40 to 60 percent.
Recent comments