FDA Says Do Not Feed Children Too Much Rice Porridge
Rice porridge is a popular first food for babies. It is also high in arsenic, according to the Food and Drug Administration , so if your child is consistently on a rice cereal diet, it’s time to diversify it.
Plants collect minerals from the soil in which they grow. Rice is especially good at trapping arsenic. It doesn’t matter if the rice is organically grown or not; this is a general warning for rice in general. Baby rice is the one that gets the most attention because some children eat large quantities of it. It is usually fortified with iron and other nutrients, which is why pediatricians love to recommend it. The FDA says small amounts are still fine, but don’t freak out:
Iron-fortified rice flakes are a good source of nutrients for your child, but they don’t have to be the only source, and they don’t have to be the first source. Other fortified cereals for babies include oats, barley, and multigrains.
Likewise, pregnant women should not rely heavily on rice in their diets. Arsenic in very large quantities can interfere with the development of a child’s brain. Brown rice contains more arsenic than white rice, and some areas of the world where rice is grown contain more arsenic than others, writes Deborah Blum at Undark . Arsenic has also been found in large amounts in organic brown rice syrup , which is used as a sweetener.
The FDA currently does not set limits on the amount of arsenic that can be found in rice products. In a recent analysis, they took samples of baby rice and other foods. About half (53%) had levels above the European Union threshold of 100 ppb . All non-rice foods were below this level. The report did not name brands, but baby food maker Gerber quickly wrote a letter to families stating that their rice cereals were below 100 ppb .
The FDA has more information on arsenic in rice. You can read their recent warning to parents at the link below.
For Consumers: Seven Things Pregnant Women and Parents Need to Know About Arsenic in Rice and Rice Flakes | FDA via Undark
Photo by Shannonpatrick17 .