Just avoid the rice.. ARSENIC levels in rice

[Penguin Zen]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_1...rompt-concern/

The arsenic enters into the rice when it is grown, according to Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He explained the rice with the highest levels of arsenic is from Texas and Louisiana, and along the Gulf coast where fields were used to grow cotton a century ago.

"When there was cotton there they had to treat the cotton with arsenic pesticides to control the bowl weevil," he said. "Now a century later, that arsenic is still in the soil, the rice is very effective at pulling it out of the soil in and it concentrates in the rice."

Arsenic causes lung, skin and bladder cancer, Landrigan said. He added that arsenic is also very harmful to babies' brain development. If a baby is exposed to arsenic in the womb because the mother is eating arsenic or if a baby ingests arsenic in the first months of life in cereal, rice milk or other food, the arsenic could interfere with brain development, reduce the child's intelligence, and cause behavioral problems.

Landrigan recommended in the coming months and years that parents avoid rice altogether or just rice that was grown in Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. "Stay with California rice, stay with Asian rice or when in doubt go with barley, go with oatmeal," he said. "The smart thing to do is to be concerned and not do it. ... Just avoid the rice."

Asked about adults eating rice, Landrigan said it's smart to limit the amount of rice you eat, but that you don't have to cut it out entirely. He added brown rice often contains more arsenic than white rice because it contains the plant's shells.

The FDA has released a statement on arsenic, saying, "Based on the currently available data and scientific literature the FDA does not have an adequate scientific basis to recommend changes by consumers regarding their consumption of rice and rice products"

Well isn't this special ..

Two types of arsenic compounds are found in nature: organic and inorganic. Inorganic arsenic is classified as cancer-causing, while ongoing research explores the possibility that some organic arsenic may also pose risks.

FDA says its data, which found an average of 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms of inorganic arsenic in a single serving of rice or rice product, are consistent with the levels found in the Consumer Reports study.

The Consumer Reports data indicate that brown rice, which retains the outer bran, can carry higher levels of arsenic. It also suggests that rice from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas generally shows higher levels of total and inorganic arsenic than rice samples from India, Thailand and California.

[Adino]

oh snap

like all my sam's rice is from la

is this for real or wth?

[Penguin Zen]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/arsenic...2#.UFpIs64xgmI

According to a sobering report released to "Good Morning America" by Consumer Reports magazine this morning, rice eaten just once a day can drive arsenic levels in the human body up 44 percent. Rice eaten twice a day can lead to a 70 percent increase in arsenic.

"We think that consumers ought to take steps to moderate their consumption," said Urvashi Rangan, director of consumer safety and sustainability at Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports tested many forms of rice for arsenic, from cereal for babies and adults, to brown and white whole grain, pasta and drinks. More than 60 rice and rice products were tested overall, including name brands.

Many contained what the magazine calls "worrisome levels of arsenic"— some products had up to five times higher levels than the arsenic found in oatmeal and one and a half times more than EPA's legal standard for drinking water.



Consumer Reports suggests rice eaters limit themselves to one serving a day, especially for babies. Rinsing and then boiling rice in a 6 to 1 water ratio removes about 30 percent of its arsenic. They also caution that children under the age of 5 should not be given rice drinks as part of their daily diet.

"We're not saying never do that," Michael Hansen, senior scientist on the Consumer Reports study said. "We're saying it should be very infrequent."


I'm sorry doesn't everyone rinse their rice first

[Hansa44]

Why do I throw a big BS on this one!!! MSM jumps in...it's true! it's true!!! And we know that it's true because a corporation called consumer reports is on the band wagon.

This reminds me of the egg fiasco, the sugar fiasco, everyone that has tons of rice and the government knows, this is one thing preppers have a lot of. The raw milk fiasco and lots more.

If you dump your rice thats up to you. But I won't.

[Lurker]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/arsenic...2#.UFpIs64xgmI

According to a sobering report released to "Good Morning America" by Consumer Reports magazine this morning, rice eaten just once a day can drive arsenic levels in the human body up 44 percent. Rice eaten twice a day can lead to a 70 percent increase in arsenic.

"We think that consumers ought to take steps to moderate their consumption," said Urvashi Rangan, director of consumer safety and sustainability at Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports tested many forms of rice for arsenic, from cereal for babies and adults, to brown and white whole grain, pasta and drinks. More than 60 rice and rice products were tested overall, including name brands.

Many contained what the magazine calls "worrisome levels of arsenic"— some products had up to five times higher levels than the arsenic found in oatmeal and one and a half times more than EPA's legal standard for drinking water.



Consumer Reports suggests rice eaters limit themselves to one serving a day, especially for babies. Rinsing and then boiling rice in a 6 to 1 water ratio removes about 30 percent of its arsenic. They also caution that children under the age of 5 should not be given rice drinks as part of their daily diet.

"We're not saying never do that," Michael Hansen, senior scientist on the Consumer Reports study said. "We're saying it should be very infrequent."


I'm sorry doesn't everyone rinse their rice first

NO - and here's why. If you buy long grain ENRICHED rice it states plainly do not rinse before cooking. This is so you don't rinse the vitamin's off the rice.

Just picked up another 50lbs and don't see that statement on the NEW bag though - the old bags did state that. I'll have to find a link about that. The rice I get is washed and polished and is from Sam's - FWIW.

[cleobc]

Boll weevils attack cotton bolls. Sorry, but if people don't know the words, they don't know what they're talking about.

[mrrk1562]

alright what about plain brown rice ...if you soak it and drain the water like dried beans ....

[Kathy in WV]

Well don't that just SUCK? I just got a big bag of rice from Honeyville grains. Wonder where it was grown?

And I too have to wonder about the BS meter on this one. Think I'll just hold onto mine in case more news comes out...

Wonder if those Arsenic test kits from Lowes etc... would give us an idea of how much is really in there?

[MR1]

Wow! Just what food IS safe to eat these days???

MR1

[fairbanksb]

I don't pay attention to where the dang rice was grown. I emptied all the packages and it is in 5 gal. buckets. I am not dumping it, that's for sure.

[Flippper]

We have arsenic in our water, which comes from a deep well up on the mountainside. It turns the moss in the birdbath water maroon, which is how I can tell when the levels are high.

I was taught by Asians to always wash my rice until the water is clear. It cleans out the rat sh!t (literally what they told me) and bugs. I was told by a sweet southern lady to never buy "enriched" rice, and she absolutely refused to buy Uncle Ben's for her restaurant.

[Be Well]

I buy rice grown in CA, can't remember the name of the farm - begins in "L", they grow brown and basmati rice and maybe other kinds; both organic and "bio-something or other", sort of half organic. I get the half org kind, it's cheaper. I don't know why I can't remember the name, maybe someone else does. It's good rice.

[blueridge]

Any ideas as to how this might affect 'Instant' Brown Rice??? (since it's been pre-cooked and ???)

Nominally a good prep item - since it supposedly lasts longer than non-instant (brown) and might be more nutritious than the white stuff.

But not if it's laden with arsenic...

[hunybee]

oh snap

like all my sam's rice is from la

is this for real or wth?

adino, it is very for real.


arsenic from the south or fukushesium from japan and cali or only God knows what from china and indonesia

[Moggy]

Take an activated charcoal capsule within one hour after eating suspicious rice and the toxins will not penetrate your stomach.

[hunybee]

I buy rice grown in CA, can't remember the name of the farm - begins in "L", they grow brown and basmati rice and maybe other kinds; both organic and "bio-something or other", sort of half organic. I get the half org kind, it's cheaper. I don't know why I can't remember the name, maybe someone else does. It's good rice.

lundberg

[phelly]

My dd is 5 months old. We were planning on starting her on rice cereal soon. I am going to call her pediatrician tomorrow to get his opinion on this. I am not worried about eating rice myself. The arsenic is not something new, they just decided to talk about it now. I just don't want to expose her unnecessarily.

[dero50]

My Dad had always used some arsenic on his garden as his dad had, and he lived to be 86 and his heart was strong to the end so I'd say arsenic wasn't the problem. His had colon cancer. Many of us have rice in our preps but we would mix that with beans, oats, etc.

[blueberry]

My dd is 5 months old. We were planning on starting her on rice cereal soon. I am going to call her pediatrician tomorrow to get his opinion on this. I am not worried about eating rice myself. The arsenic is not something new, they just decided to talk about it now. I just don't want to expose her unnecessarily.

I don't blame you! We have been giving babies rice cereal as their first solid, for many, many years - that may change now.

[kyrsyan]

Don't panic so quickly. Maybe it's just my AO but US rice isn't that easy to find. Most of the stuff I've purchased over the years is from out of the country. US rice got pulled from the human consumption market for a while because of an "accidental" release of a GMO strain. When I've bought at Sam's or other places it's all been listed as from China or Japan. And as much as I hate to buy from China - this is one thing I do buy from there due to GMO issue. Around me I've only found US grown rice in the health food/specialty stores.

[cheyenneplateau]

Ya know, I just bought 40 lbs of rice from Sam's last night..........last night! Why me..... Well, somethings gonna do me in eventually.
Rice...............

[magnetic1]

Lundberg rice is supposed to be a good one.

I can't resist Thai Jasmine Rice, myself. I don't ever buy any brands but Lundberg and Mahatma........hopefully they are okay since I have fed tons of it to my family!

Rice keeps so well and can be used to stretch so many foods that I have always relied on it.......maybe not a good thing.

But nothing we get is good any more.......right down to the venison.......

[Buckster]

This is not a new story. It has been known for a while.

The white powder that can be seen on grapefruit sometimes, is lead arsenate. Or at least it use to be. Probably still is. I have noticed that they wash it off now before it's put in stores, but sometimes they don't get it all and I can see some of the residue.

Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment and in foods. It is a fact of life in the post industrial age. Chelating agents are a must. imo.

[Y2kO]

And Arkansas rice is GMO.

Just buy imported rice.

[Straycat]

He explained the rice with the highest levels of arsenic is from Texas and Louisiana, and along the Gulf coast where fields were used to grow cotton a century ago.

"When there was cotton there they had to treat the cotton with arsenic pesticides to control the bowl weevil," he said. "Now a century later, that arsenic is still in the soil, the rice is very effective at pulling it out of the soil in and it concentrates in the rice."

What they're saying is that this has already been the case for a VERY LONG TIME. Have we seen lots of problems caused by it? I surely haven't heard of any. So I'm not going to be panicking and quitting rice.

[Be Well]

lundberg

Yes! That's it. I kept thinking "Lehman's" I and knew that was wrong. Brain-tired.

[IamRose]

Well, considering the fact I'm gluten intolerant, rice is pretty much a staple for me.
If I go mad as a hatter......

[prepgirl44]

I buy rice grown in CA, can't remember the name of the farm - begins in "L", they grow brown and basmati rice and maybe other kinds; both organic and "bio-something or other", sort of half organic. I get the half org kind, it's cheaper. I don't know why I can't remember the name, maybe someone else does. It's good rice.

Lundberg Farms. (They are in my AO and I have known them since I was a kid.)

Excellent rice, no pesticides, into organic methods and now working at getting off the grid using solar power...good, good people, down to earth folks, and Christians who actually walk the walk. Known as the best employers around, provide good jobs, excellent benefits and great working conditions. Employees become family.

Yeah, you can't beat Lundberg Farms for their good rice, good neighborly ways, and their christian walk!!!

[energy_wave]

Dam! What the Hell is going on here!!! I went to buy some Arsenic and it was contaminated with rice. Who's watching over our food supply people???

[Chance]

Hello,

Just wanted to add...for you beer drinkers, rice is an adjunct used to brew beer. I work for a large brewery and we use a LOT of rice (I think we are the largest buyer of rice in the nation); we purchase it from Riceland/Arkansas. This information on arsenic/rice was brought up several years ago; we've tested for fatty acid content but not arsenic to my knowledge. Probably should.

Quote from an another post to this thread:

"He explained the rice with the highest levels of arsenic is from Texas and Louisiana, and along the Gulf coast where fields were used to grow cotton a century ago."


Don't know where Arkansas/Missouri or other Midwest states rank.


Makes me wonder about breweries that buy rice from the 'highest level' states. Hmmmm.

Just something to think about..

Chance (Quality Assurance Analyst)

[NC Susan]

NO - and here's why. If you buy long grain ENRICHED rice it states plainly do not rinse before cooking. This is so you don't rinse the vitamin's off the rice.

Just picked up another 50lbs and don't see that statement on the NEW bag though - the old bags did state that. I'll have to find a link about that. The rice I get is washed and polished and is from Sam's - FWIW.

the ONLY reason to rinse long grain is to remove the starch to separate the rice grains so that it "LOOKS" fluffy.
No Asian would dream of eating American style cooked rice.

If you want the rinse, to do it the easiest way is after the rice is cooked, to put the pot in the sink and run a very slow stream of hot water into the pot. the clean water will sink but float the starch to the top and over the sides and wash it down the drain. Then when the water is clear, drain the rice in a sieve or strainer. This makes beautiful rice.

---------

and I do agree with the above posters. Dont believe anything from the Mainstream Media. Who hasnt seen a convenient reversal of the lies ->coffee/butter/lard/treenuts/sugar/tobacco/marijuana/pregnancy weight gain/ ADHD/ exercise/ yoyo diets/

[tm1439m]

the ONLY reason to rinse long grain is to remove the starch to separate the rice grains so that it "LOOKS" fluffy.
No Asian would dream of eating American style cooked rice.

If you want the rinse, to do it the easiest way is after the rice is cooked, to put the pot in the sink and run a very slow stream of hot water into the pot. the clean water will sink but float the starch to the top and over the sides and wash it down the drain. Then when the water is clear, drain the rice in a sieve or strainer. This makes beautiful rice.

---------

and I do agree with the above posters. Dont believe anything from the Mainstream Media. Who hasnt seen a convenient reversal of the lies ->coffee/butter/lard/treenuts/sugar/tobacco/marijuana/pregnancy weight gain/ ADHD/ exercise/ yoyo diets/

Only problem with that statement is you should NEVER use hot water in or on your food from the hot water tap IIRC. Can't remember all the details on it but the problem is from the water heater tank and maybe lead from the pipes.

[brokenwings]

Remember last year it was the Apple Juice that was high in arsenic?

[tm1439m]

Apples have always been know to contain arsenic. They always wil and i will always eat them. MMMMMM.

My guess is the rice deal is no different.

[ejagno]

Being one of only a few Cajuns on this board I can tell you that not everything you read on the internet is gospel. We've eaten Louisiana grown rice generally twice per day for the past 50+ years. Yes our cancer rate is higher but we also live near massive oil, gas and other petrochemical refineries creating hazardous air & water quality. I'll be the first to tell you that I still won't eat the gulf seafood due to the chemicals used to contain the BP spill, but I'll also tell you I have no problem with the rice and will continue eating it. All naturally grown grain & produce contain some level of toxicity of one kind, whether naturally, through the soil or air. Every year we get these don't drink milk, don't eat pork, don't eat red meat, don't eat eggs, don't use this or that yet it's amazing that all 4 of my grandparents lived well into their hundreds and my parents are in their late 70's & 80's. Now that's a long time to dye of arcenic poisoning and none died from cancer either. And if the arsenic was that concentrated then it would have been on every fiber of our clothing for the last 100 years. Common sense can go a long way.

[nomifyle]

Being one of only a few Cajuns on this board I can tell you that not everything you read on the internet is gospel. We've eaten Louisiana grown rice generally twice per day for the past 50+ years. Yes our cancer rate is higher but we also live near massive oil, gas and other petrochemical refineries creating hazardous air & water quality. I'll be the first to tell you that I still won't eat the gulf seafood due to the chemicals used to contain the BP spill, but I'll also tell you I have no problem with the rice and will continue eating it. All naturally grown grain & produce contain some level of toxicity of one kind, whether naturally, through the soil or air. Every year we get these don't drink milk, don't eat pork, don't eat red meat, don't eat eggs, don't use this or that yet it's amazing that all 4 of my grandparents lived well into their hundreds and my parents are in their late 70's & 80's. Now that's a long time to dye of arcenic poisoning and none died from cancer either. And if the arsenic was that concentrated then it would have been on every fiber of our clothing for the last 100 years. Common sense can go a long way.

While I do agree with you that the can't eat this or that thing drives me crazy, the food your parents and grandparents ate coming up is not the same food we have available now. The eggs I ate growing up are not the same that are on the grocery shelves now. I have to pay double to hopefully get a healthy egg. And I don't eat Louisiana rice, mainly because I don't eat much rice. And what I do comes from the Himalayas in the form of basmati rice. My DH is a rice eater but he is from New Orleans, I grew up in Bossier City/Monroe and we were not rice eaters. I feel my stash is safe and will last a long time because I don't eat much. And I don't eat the fish from the gulf either.

Judy

[FairLight]

I heard this yesterday on the HLN news loop.
At the conclusion of the report, the news (I'll be nice and not say it) reporter stated..."There are no Federal Regulations..for rice. It's time for Federal Regulations ..."
I am thinking this is what the entire report was leading up to.
Nanny state for rice.
Arsenic occurs naturally in minute amounts in many things.

FairLight
Linda In CA

[packyderms_wife]

The rice I bought is from Thailand, wonder if it still matters?

K-

[ejagno]

While I do agree with you that the can't eat this or that thing drives me crazy, the food your parents and grandparents ate coming up is not the same food we have available now. The eggs I ate growing up are not the same that are on the grocery shelves now. I have to pay double to hopefully get a healthy egg. And I don't eat Louisiana rice, mainly because I don't eat much rice. And what I do comes from the Himalayas in the form of basmati rice. My DH is a rice eater but he is from New Orleans, I grew up in Bossier City/Monroe and we were not rice eaters. I feel my stash is safe and will last a long time because I don't eat much. And I don't eat the fish from the gulf either.

Judy

Judy, although I have the utmost respect for you, I wholeheartedly disagree. My parents and grandparents farmed cotton on the exact same land that we are living on today. Herbicides were used then. I was actually the first one to buy an acre in that cotton field. They raise their own chickens and ducks so basically it's the same eggs as well. The fruits and vegetables we produce are all grown on that same land.

[Double_A]

CalRose brand