US rice contains most arsenic, Indian basmati among safest, finds study

Rice sold in the United States has been found to contain some of the highest levels of inorganic arsenic — a toxic heavy metal linked to cancer and developmental issues, according to a recent report by Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing children’s exposure to harmful chemicals. 

By contrast, rice varieties imported from India and Thailand, including Indian basmati and Thai jasmine rice, were among those with the lowest arsenic levels. 

The findings of the report, titled ‘What’s in your family’s rice?’, are particularly worrying for populations most vulnerable to the toxic effects of arsenic: pregnant women, young children, and people who consume rice frequently, said Margaret Karagas, a professor of epidemiology at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. However, she noted that there are practical ways to reduce arsenic exposure from rice, according to a report by The New York Times.

Researchers behind the report tested 145 rice products purchased through Amazon and retail chains like Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Costco, and Target. The samples included rice grown in the US as well as imports from various countries. They also tested other grains such as quinoa, farro, couscous, and spelt for comparison. 

All rice samples contained inorganic arsenic — the most toxic form of the metal. Shockingly, around one-third of these samples surpassed the FDA’s safety limit for arsenic in infant rice cereals. On average, the arsenic levels in rice were 28 times higher than those found in the other grains tested.