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Should I worry about arsenic in my rice?

Printed From: Foods of the World Forum
Category: Food, Health and Wellness
Forum Name: Food Safety
Forum Discription: A place to discuss Safe preparation and handling practices, as well as food-borne illnesses.
URL: http://foodsoftheworld.ActiveBoards.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=4751
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 20:33


Topic: Should I worry about arsenic in my rice?
Posted By: GarethM
Subject: Should I worry about arsenic in my rice?
Date Posted: 10 February 2017 at 02:50
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38910848 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38910848

An interesting article


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Gareth


Replies:
Posted By: Hoser
Date Posted: 10 February 2017 at 04:01
Interesting article for sure, but unless you are consuming vast amounts I'm not sure I'd be too worried. So many foods naturally contain arsenic or cyanide....apple seeds, green potatoes, brussel sprouts, almonds...the list is a long one.

Certainly worth taking note of though.


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Go ahead...play with your food!

Posted By: pitrow
Date Posted: 10 February 2017 at 10:50
billions (possibly trillions) of Asians eat vast quantities of rice and are still alive. I wouldn't put much faith in this. This is just more "the sky is falling!" tactics if you ask me. 

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Mike
http://lifeinpitrow.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Life in PitRow - My often neglected, somewhat eccentric, occasionally outstanding blog

Posted By: Melissa Mead
Date Posted: 11 February 2017 at 17:25
The article says: "Eating a couple of portions of rice a week isn't putting an adult like me at high risk, but Prof Meharg is concerned about children and babies."

And apparently soaking the rice first helps, too.


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Melissa

http://carpelibris.wordpress.com/ - http://carpelibris.wordpress.com/


Posted By: GarethM
Date Posted: 13 February 2017 at 02:13
Personally I don't think it is a worry, just thought I would put it out there in the ether.

I certainly haven't eaten any less rice because of it!
Gareth


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Gareth

Posted By: gracoman
Date Posted: 21 March 2018 at 11:21
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/where-does-the-arsenic-in-rice-mushrooms-and-wine-come-from/?utm_content=buffer37546&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer - How does arsenic get into rice?



Posted By: Margi Cintrano
Date Posted: 21 March 2018 at 17:12
Soaking the rice overnight is highly advised ..

The Japanese, enormous eaters of rice, live the longest ..

What is not mentioned is:  The types of rice with the most arsenic ..

Spain:  Valencian Arborio ?  Muricia´s Calaspara ?  Alicante Bomba ?

Italy:   Lombardy´s  Risotto Arborio Rice ?  Lombardy´s  Carnaroli Risotto Rice ?

China ?
Japan?

India´s  Basmati  ?

Vietnam ?

Thailand ?

North American Rices  ?

Greece ?  

Turkey ?

Iran ?  



Plus hundreds of others surely ..   
 


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Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.

Posted By: gracoman
Date Posted: 25 March 2018 at 20:30
These are great questions Margi.  The video I posted a link to is only one part of a series concerned with arsenic in rice.  It was mostly concerned with agribusiness's, American agribusiness's contribution to the problem.  Other vid's in the series discuss other rices from different countries and the degree of arsenic associated with them.  With rice, it pays to read labels. 

I must disagree with you in regard to the Japanese.  It is only the Japanese living in the Okinawa archipelago who are the longest lived.  At least for now but that may be changing.  The Okinawans are not  enormous eaters of rice. Their diet is based largely on sweet potatoes.  Rice is only 12% of the Okinawan diet and the arsenic levels are probably much lower there as they are in most Asian countries.

Posted By: Margi Cintrano
Date Posted: 26 March 2018 at 06:14
Gracoman,

Most of the rice grown in Valencia, Alicante and Murcia as well as  Lombardy, Italy are grown on sustainable soil or are bio / ecological ..  

We all learn something new daily .. I was not aware that of the Okinawa diet ..  

Yes, I read all labels and carry my Reading glasses as the print is just ridicously tiny !  But all is labelled quite largely on the front of the packages ..  

Thanks for your feedback .. And compliment and info .. 

Have a lovely Spring Break / Easter holiday ..   





 


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Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.

Posted By: gracoman
Date Posted: 26 March 2018 at 08:19
Much is broken in American food production and processing methods as is to be expected wherever profit eclipses health and safety.  A one week's viewing of http://www.foodsafetynews.com/ - Food Safety News is enough to illustrate the point.

The arsenic/rice connection is so strong on US soil rice is now the primary food source of arsenic exposure in a non seafood diet.  Tells you something about the state of our oceans.  Rice is also the largest contributor of inorganic arsenic exposure in Southeast Asia and China where rice is a staple food.

It matters where the US produced rice one eats is grown.  Rice grown in south central US, in former cotton fields where arsenic containing pesticides were heavily used should be avoided.  The practice of using arsenic containing pesticides was known as dangerous in the 1920's but the practice was not banned until 1987.  This area is so heavily contaminated with arsenic rice will not grow well there.  The industry's response was to develop strains of rice that would grow well in the infected areas.  Rice grown in these areas carry the heaviest concentrations. 

Posted By: Margi Cintrano
Date Posted: 26 March 2018 at 08:32

Yes, it is a real dilema over the blue pond ..  Most of us here, avoid most of what is exported here and in many cases, is dumped by the shops or supermarkets as the Europeans only buy local or bio ..  

These goods are clearly marked "Genetically Modified" if that be the case .. 

And all eggs  are marked by their dietary feed as well & how they are raised, in cage or free of cages .. 

Thank you for all your information ..  

It is surely time for the Usa Government at all levels  to start thinking of humanity instead of what goes in their wallets ..  Monsanto & Bayer ( merged)  are not on the to buy list here ..  

It is a true disaster ..  There are countries who have banned all Usa imports ..  They pay a fee but they are not going to import ..   Nor pay the fee ..  They are fighting the destructive effects on their populations health ..  

Time the Chefs, have united and fight back legally with a lawyer to represent them ..  

I think they may have, but the judicial system is very slow !  




 




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Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.


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