Dangerous levels of arsenic found in US rice: What families need to know now
The Brief
100% of rice samples tested contained arsenic; over 25% exceeded infant safety limits
Cadmium, another toxic metal, was found in all but one sample
California-grown rice had the lowest levels of heavy metal contamination
LOS ANGELES - A new nationwide investigation by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) has uncovered widespread contamination in store-bought rice sold in the United States, raising concerns about arsenic and cadmium exposure—especially among infants, toddlers, and pregnant people.
The 2025 report, "What's in Your Family's Rice?," found arsenic in every single rice sample tested, with more than 1 in 4 samples exceeding the FDA's safety limit for infant rice cereal.
Cadmium, another harmful heavy metal, was detected in all but one of the 145 rice samples tested. Both arsenic and cadmium are linked to serious long-term health risks, including neurodevelopmental harm, cancer, kidney damage, and reduced IQ in children.
By the numbers
HBBF's independent lab tests revealed that contamination levels varied based on the type of rice and where it was grown—not the brand.
U.S.-grown brown rice had the highest contamination, with 151 parts per billion (ppb) of heavy metals, including 129 ppb of arsenic.
White rice from the U.S. Southeast, often labeled simply as "USA," measured 118 ppb in total.
Arborio rice from Italy, commonly used for risotto, measured 142 ppb total (101 ppb arsenic).
California-grown sushi and Calrose rice had the lowest contamination, at 65 ppb total (55 ppb arsenic).
Although the FDA set a 100 ppb arsenic limit for infant rice cereal, no such limit exists for regular rice products—despite their widespread use in family meals.
Why you should care
According to the report, rice is a significant dietary source of arsenic for children under 2—accounting for an average of 7.5% of total arsenic exposure. That number jumps to 14% for Hispanic and Latino children, and over 30% for Asian American infants, due to higher rice consumption in these communities.
The report warns that early-life exposure to these contaminants is especially dangerous during pregnancy and infancy, when the brain is most vulnerable. Arsenic and cadmium can cross the placenta and have been linked to reduced IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues later in life.
What you can do
The report highlights several safer options for families:
California-grown sushi rice or Calrose rice
Basmati rice from India
Jasmine rice from Thailand
Precooked products like instant rice, parboiled rice, and ready-to-heat rice may carry additional risks due to toxins created during processing or chemicals leached from plastic packaging.
Instead of focusing on brands, families are advised to look at country of origin and rice variety. Not all packaging lists the origin, so consumers may need to do extra research.
HBBF offers practical tips to significantly reduce arsenic exposure at home:
Soak rice for 30 minutes or overnight, then drain
Cook rice in extra water (6 to 10 cups of water per 1 cup of rice), then drain like pasta
Avoid just rinsing—it does little to reduce arsenic
Add iron-rich foods, since boiling and draining may reduce added iron in fortified rice
Other protective nutrients—like vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, zinc, and protein—can help block or reduce the absorption of heavy metals. These are found in foods like leafy greens, beans, yogurt, strawberries, citrus fruits, and lean meats.
The other side
The lab also tested nine ancient grains—such as quinoa, barley, millet, buckwheat, and farro—and found they contained 28 times less arsenic than rice, on average. While some had slightly more cadmium, the overall heavy metal load was three times lower than rice.
Families looking to rotate grains or reduce rice intake may find these alternatives helpful for reducing long-term exposure.
What's next
HBBF calls on the FDA and industry to take urgent action, including:
Setting enforceable limits for arsenic and cadmium in all rice—not just baby food
Encouraging clear labeling for products that meet infant safety standards
Requiring regular testing and public posting of heavy metal levels in rice products
The report emphasizes that these are achievable goals with powerful health benefits, especially for communities most affected by high rice consumption.
"Parents shouldn't have to worry that a common first food like rice could carry hidden risks," said Jane Houlihan, HBBF's National Director of Science and Health. "This study is a wake-up call—but it's also full of hope. With just a few changes in the kitchen and stronger rules from the FDA, we can dramatically lower children's exposure to harmful metals."
The Source
This article is based entirely on the 2025 report "What's in Your Family's Rice?" by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF). All data, quotes, and recommendations are sourced directly from the report and its publicly available consumer guides, which include laboratory results, exposure analysis, and cooking safety tips. The full report is available on the HBBF website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sword Health Now Valued At $4 Billion, Announces Expansion Into Mental Health Services
Sword Health announced Tuesday that it had raised $40 million in a recent funding round, giving it a $4 billion valuation. Founded in 2015, the healthcare startup has focused on helping people manage chronic pain at home. Using AI tools, the platform connects users with expert clinicians who then provide patients with tools for digital physical therapy, pelvic health, and overall mobility health. However, the company says this new round of funding will largely go towards developing a mental health arm of its program called Mind. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can "Today, nearly 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition. Yet care remains fragmented, reactive, and inaccessible," Sword said in the announcement. "Mind redefines mental health care delivery with a proactive, 24/7 model that integrates cutting-edge AI with licensed, Ph.D-level mental health specialists. Together, they provide seamless, contextual, and responsive support any time people need it, not just when they have an appointment." Sword CEO Virgílio Bento told CNBC, "[Mind] really a breakthrough in terms of how we address mental health, and this is only possible because we have AI." Users will be equipped with a wearable device called an M-band, which will measure their environmental and physiological signals so that experts can reach out proactively as needed. The program will also offer access to services like traditional talk therapy. Bento told CNBC that a human is "always involved" in patients care in each of its programs, and that AI is not making any clinical decisions. Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . For example, if a Sword patient has an anxiety attack, AI will identify it through the wearable and bring it to the attention of a clinician, who can then provide an appropriate care plan. "You have an anxiety issue today, and the way you're going to manage is to talk about it one week from now? That just doesn't work," Bento told CNBC. "Mental health should be always on, where you have a problem now, and you can have immediate help in the moment." According to Bento, Sword Mind already has a waiting list, and is being tested by some of its partners who appreciate it's "personalized approach and convenience." "We believe that it is really the future of how mental health is going to be delivered in the future, by us and by other companies," he told CNBC. "AI plays a very important role, but the use of AI — and I think this is very important — needs to be used in a very smart way." The rest of the cash raised in the funding round, which was led by General Catalyst, will go towards acquisitions, global expansion, and AI development, Sword Health says. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Sword Health Now Valued At $4 Billion, Announces Expansion Into Mental Health Services originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
41 minutes ago
- CNN
A potent heat dome is sending temperatures into the triple digits
The hottest temperatures of the year so far will soon reach the eastern half of the United States as a brutal heat dome starts to build over the weekend. Dangerous, record-breaking heat will impact millions next week. Much of the East is getting a brief respite from the July-like heat that baked the region earlier this week, but thermometers will soar to even more extreme levels starting Sunday. Tens of millions of people from the Midwest to the East Coast will face a level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk Sunday through at least Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Such long-lasting heat is rare, will likely offer little to no overnight relief and will affect anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,' the agency warns. High temperatures across the Plains, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are expected to hit at least 15 degrees above normal next week and will mark the hottest temperatures of the year to date, rising well into the 90s. With humidity, it could feel as hot as 110 degrees — especially in the Mid-Atlantic. The heat will peak in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic early next week. Forecast highs are around 97 degrees in New York City Sunday through Tuesday and could break daily records. In Washington, DC, the temperature could reach 100 — matching or breaking records on both days. Boston is expected to be around 90 degrees on Monday and 94 on Tuesday, just shy of daily records set in the mid-90s. Over 250 daily temperature records could be broken on Monday and Tuesday, including both record highs and record warm lows — many at sites with data going back to the early 1900s. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US, contributing to more than 800 deaths annually on average since 1999, a 2023 study found. Days of intense heat disproportionately drive more severe public health impacts, even in places accustomed to summer heat. Emergency room visits for heat-related illness surge on 'major' and 'extreme' risk days, particularly when high humidity and warm nights prevent the body from cooling, according to the National Weather Service. Nighttime temperatures are also warming faster than daytime highs due to climate change. This makes it harder for the body to cool and recover and increases the risk of heat-related illness and death. This stretch of heat is building just as the seasons officially change. The summer solstice was on Friday at 10:42 p.m. ET, the moment the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the sun. The solstice brings the highest sun angles and longest days of the year, meaning more solar energy is available to fuel extreme heat. The solstice is the start of astronomical summer, but meteorologists mark the beginning of summer on June 1, using calendar months to better match seasonal weather patterns. The hottest weeks of the year still lie ahead. For nearly all of the country — outside of parts of the Desert Southwest in Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas — the warmest days typically occur in July or August. This early-season event is likely just a preview of what's to come, though this stretch of heat is expected to ease by the end of next week. CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman Had a ‘Great Relationship' with Her Mother-in-Law, Until She Had a Baby
A new mom says her mother-in-law has changed since the arrival of her baby In a post shared to Reddit, the woman writes that her husband's mom has been "questioning" all her parenting decisions Among the mother-in-law's issues are the temperature of the baby's milk and whether she's eating "too loudly"A woman who had her first baby in March says her mother-in-law is questioning all of her parenting decisions — and, being that she lives just a couple of blocks away, it's getting old. In a post on Reddit, the 26-year-old woman writes that while her father-in-law works "long shifts," she and her husband often take the baby to visit with her mother-in-law. "She's always been wonderful before our baby and we have a great relationship, but lately she keeps questioning things I do," she writes. During a recent trip to the mother-in-law's house, the woman brought a bottle of breastmilk and placed it in the fridge. "MIL asked, 'Why do you keep her milk in the fridge?' and I responded, 'I make so much milk now that I've got to keep it cold so it doesn't go bad. It's only good for about 4 hours at room temp,'" she recalls. "Later on I took the bottle out and was feeding baby when MIL asked if she was eating the milk cold, and I said 'Yep! She's never been too fussy about her bottle temps; she'll eat it cold or warm.' MIL looked a little shocked and said 'But breastmilk is warm when it comes out of the body!' I just defended myself and told her it's perfectly fine." While she "thought it would end there," her mother-in-law called the poster's husband a few days later and "asked him if it was really okay for baby to be drinking cold milk." "Of course he said yes, it's totally fine, we've double-checked with the doctor and everything," the woman writes. "I did a ton of research on bottle-feeding before making the decision to switch." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The mother-in-law also questioned why the baby is "so loud" when she eats, which the poster reassured her was perfectly fine. "I told her baby's just a loud eater and she said, 'Are you sure?' and my partner had to say yes, we asked the doctor about that too," she writes. "Maybe I'm just being sensitive, but it irks me that she had to ask her son instead of just trusting that I know what I'm doing," she continues. "Yes we're young, yes this is our first baby… but I don't make decisions for baby's health without lots of thought behind them. Am I overreacting about this or is it weird for her not to trust my judgment as a mother?" Most commenters supported the poster, noting that they would "stop visiting" the mother-in-law if she kept questioning their parenting decisions. "You are not overreacting, she's being disrespectful toward you and your role as a mother," one person commented. "My babies didn't care about bottle temperature either. It's such a normal thing I don't know why she would keep bothering you about it." Read the original article on People
