Arsenic in Rice

It’s been a few years since it became known that rice and rice products that are sold in stores, and likely the rice you eat, has deleterious levels of arsenic in them. The inorganic form (chemistry term; not meaning the use of pesticides) of arsenic is a known carcinogen. Stay tuned into this issue as the FDA runs their own risk assessment on the matter.  However, this 2014 article from Consumer Reports will present to you some interesting ideas to keep you better informed right now. Here are the key points:

1. Brown rice contains more arsenic than white rice.
2. Rice grown in California, India, and Pakistan have the lowest levels of arsenic.
3. Avoid rice grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, or generically “the US.”
4. White and brown basmati are the best forms of rice to eat.
5. Thoroughly rinse your rice before cooking it.  And, cook your rice in a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice and drain the excess water after it’s cooked.
6. Children under 5 years old should not drink rice milk.
7. Pregnant women consuming rice products need to use extra caution.
8. Everyone should not consume more than 7 points per week of their arsenic in rice quota. See the table below:

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