From a press release:
A combine cuts rice in a field near Tucker, Arkansas, a state that grows nearly 60 percent of the USA’s rice production. (AP Photo)
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has introduced legislation to limit the amount of inorganic arsenic, the most toxic form of arsenic found in foods, that is permitted in rice and rice-based products. The R.I.C.E (Reducing food-based Inorganic Compounds Exposure) Act would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set a maximum permissible level of inorganic arsenic in rice and food containing rice.
“High levels of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, can be found in rice, cereal and other common, everyday foods,” DeLauro said. “The federal government needs to step in to make sure that American families are consuming food that is safe. We have known about the dangers of arsenic for some time now, and there is no excuse for us not to take action.”
“A recent study by Consumer Reports found concerning levels of inorganic arsenic in a variety of rice and rice products. “We applaud Congresswoman DeLauro for her continued work to reduce arsenic in rice, and believe that the RICE Act moves us toward that critical goal. Consumer Reports’ risk assessment and tests show why we need the FDA to set a standard that is protective of public health,” said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Executive Director, Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center.
“EWG applauds Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for introducing an important piece of legislation to deal with the emerging evidence that arsenic, a known human carcinogen, contaminates many otherwise healthy foods that contain rice. The U.S. government has been slow to take action to address arsenic contamination in food, and this bill is a good step forward in protecting the health and safety of our citizens,” said Scott Faber, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group.
“Every child needs a safe environment and sound nutrition to grow up healthy. In order to meet the basic foundations of health for every child, we must ensure that the food they eat, especially during the earliest days of their development, is safe. Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen, and long-term oral exposure to high levels of it is associated with harmful, lifelong health consequences, including developmental effects, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Inorganic arsenic has been found in rice and rice products, including the rice cereals often introduced as a baby’s first food.
“The RICE Act is a critical step to protecting our children from inorganic arsenic exposure, and pediatricians thank Representative Rosa DeLauro for her leadership in championing this legislation,” said American Academy of Pediatrics President Sandra G. Hassink, MD, FAAP.
