Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products

This presentation reviews Consumer Reports (CR) recently completed testing project studying the levels of arsenic in rice and rice products. The results of the studies revealed varying levels of total and inorganic arsenic in the majority of products tested.  Chronic exposure of low doses of Inorganic arsenic is known to cause cancers in humans as well as a variety of other health effects such as cardiovascular disease.  Using the results of its testing, CR conducted a quantitative cancer risk assessment to evaluate the health effects from exposure to arsenic in rice and rice products.  CR then used these results to devise serving size recommendations for consumers and limits for arsenic in food to the Food and Drug Administration.  The study is part of CR’s continued investigation into exposure to arsenic in the food supply. Risk assessments and recommendations will be reviewed.

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