Consumer Reports Arsenic in Food November 2012_1.pdf
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Thanks,
It appears that Lundberg California White Basmati and Trader Joe's White Basmati From India have a far lower arsenic content than any of the others.
Notice that the Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten Free version has a relatively low level, and the arsenic content is much lower than the regular version of Rice Krispies.
Rice Dream is also very low in arsenic content.
Tex
It appears that Lundberg California White Basmati and Trader Joe's White Basmati From India have a far lower arsenic content than any of the others.
Notice that the Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten Free version has a relatively low level, and the arsenic content is much lower than the regular version of Rice Krispies.
Rice Dream is also very low in arsenic content.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex,
Your thoughts on whether something that tested high on this report might be a different picture say retested 6 months from now if the mfg bought from different suppliers/regions of the country?
i.e. everyone shops price in my industry I"m guessing the food mfg's must shop prices of rice in the marketplace? I'm guessing batches tested 6 months out might show a different picture but who knows?
Brandy
Your thoughts on whether something that tested high on this report might be a different picture say retested 6 months from now if the mfg bought from different suppliers/regions of the country?
i.e. everyone shops price in my industry I"m guessing the food mfg's must shop prices of rice in the marketplace? I'm guessing batches tested 6 months out might show a different picture but who knows?
Brandy
Hi Brandy,
Sure, every sample will test differently, but if you look at the table, the majority tested relatively high. It's a widespread problem. IMO, rice from India, on the average is probably the safest. Of course, the market will immediately recognize that, and all that rice will be snapped up. Business is business, and in the long run, all of the available supply has to be used, to meet the demand. No one can afford to produce rice and then throw it away. Low-arsenic rice will probably command a premium price, but money talks, and so all of it will be used, because there is no way that the market demand can be met, (at a cometitive price), otherwise.
The problem is complicated by the inorganic percentage, of course. While the Trader Joe's White Basmati From India had a relatively low arsenic content, a higher percentage of it was inorganic.
That makes it hard to win, because the inorganic arsenic is not as likely to just pass on through our system.
Hopefully, as you say, it will sort of average out in the long run, so that we'll continue to get by without any adverse consequences.
Part of the problem is the way that rice is grown, in standing water, which facilitates the uptake of soluble contaminants such as arsenic. I'm not sure that rice actually has to be grown in standing water, though. It has always been done that way, primarily because the flooded fields prevent competition from weeds and grass. Perhaps growers will develop ways to grow rice without flooding. Of course, that will probably necessitate the use of certain herbicides, but sometimes we have to select the least offensive of two undesirable choices (as is often the case in political elections, for example. LOL).
Tex
Sure, every sample will test differently, but if you look at the table, the majority tested relatively high. It's a widespread problem. IMO, rice from India, on the average is probably the safest. Of course, the market will immediately recognize that, and all that rice will be snapped up. Business is business, and in the long run, all of the available supply has to be used, to meet the demand. No one can afford to produce rice and then throw it away. Low-arsenic rice will probably command a premium price, but money talks, and so all of it will be used, because there is no way that the market demand can be met, (at a cometitive price), otherwise.
The problem is complicated by the inorganic percentage, of course. While the Trader Joe's White Basmati From India had a relatively low arsenic content, a higher percentage of it was inorganic.
That makes it hard to win, because the inorganic arsenic is not as likely to just pass on through our system.Hopefully, as you say, it will sort of average out in the long run, so that we'll continue to get by without any adverse consequences.
Part of the problem is the way that rice is grown, in standing water, which facilitates the uptake of soluble contaminants such as arsenic. I'm not sure that rice actually has to be grown in standing water, though. It has always been done that way, primarily because the flooded fields prevent competition from weeds and grass. Perhaps growers will develop ways to grow rice without flooding. Of course, that will probably necessitate the use of certain herbicides, but sometimes we have to select the least offensive of two undesirable choices (as is often the case in political elections, for example. LOL).
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.