The research found 75% of rice-based products tested had concentrations of arsenic that exceeded the EU guideline for safe rice consumption for babies and toddlers.

The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found Australian children who eat large amounts of rice-based food may be exposed to dangerous amounts of arsenic.

Senior researcher Associate Professor Suzie Reichman, an environmental toxicologist at RMIT University, said the research used European guidelines because Australia does not have safety standards specifically for children.

“While all the products we tested meet Australian guidelines, these do not reflect the latest scientific understanding on how arsenic affects the body,” Reichman said.

“Children are far more vulnerable to the long-term toxic effect of metals like arsenic, but our rice guidelines are based on adults.

“The guidelines are also based on out-of-date dietary habits, when rice was generally eaten less often by Australian families.

“This study shows the need to develop new standards specifically for children and ensure our guidelines are in line with what we now know about safe rice consumption.”

Reichman said rice-based products were a popular alternative for the growing number of children with gluten intolerances.

“Rice can be safely eaten as part of a well-rounded, balanced diet, but if it’s a child’s main source of carbohydrates, that could be a problem,” she said.

“As a general rule, we recommend that children under five eat rice in moderation and parents should avoid serving rice at every meal, to minimise the risk of exposure to arsenic.”

Minimising arsenic exposure

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal widely found in air, soil and groundwater that comes in both organic and inorganic forms.

Organic arsenic is relatively safe, but inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen linked with cancers of the bladder and skin. Long-term exposure to high amounts of inorganic arsenic is dangerous to human health.

Because rice plants are known to accumulate arsenic more than similar crops, rice safety guidelines aim to minimise potential exposure.

The Australian rice guidelines are for total arsenic (organic and inorganic) and set a maximum level of 1mg/kg. This is more than 3 times higher than the standard for total arsenic set by the World Health Organisation of 0.3mg/kg.

Rather than looking at total arsenic, the European Union guideline for infants and young children focuses specifically on inorganic arsenic and sets a maximum level of 0.1mg/kg.

Product testing

The study tested 39 rice products for babies and toddlers found in Australian supermarkets, including milk formula powder, cereal, crackers and pasta made from brown, white, organic and non-organic rice.

The research found 75% of the products had levels of inorganic arsenic above the EU standard for children.

Among the findings, the study found there was more inorganic arsenic in brown rice crackers than white rice crackers, likely because arsenic is more concentrated in the rice bran that is removed in white rice.

Reichman said the results for brown rice were particularly concerning because it is generally seen by health-conscious parents as a better choice, due to its higher fibre and nutrient contents.

The research was part of a final-year capstone project by Bachelor of Environmental Engineering student, Zhuyun Gu, who is now undertaking a PhD at RMIT.

“The research completed by Zhuyun was of such high standard that it was accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and highlighted in its special edition focusing on arsenic exposure in the environment and human health,” Reichman said.

“This work is an important contribution to our understanding of safety issues around rice in our diets, and supports the need for updating arsenic guidelines in Australia.

“It’s a fantastic example of how our students can shape the world by looking at practical problems and searching for real solutions.”

‘Arsenic concentrations and dietary exposure in rice-based infant food in Australia’, has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17020415).

Safe consumption

Using the EU guideline for infants and young children, the study found a safe daily rice consumption limit for Australian children aged up to 5 is:

1 serving of rice pasta (25g) OR

2 servings of rice milk formula (10g total) OR

2 servings of rice cereal (40g total) OR

3 servings of rice crackers (27g total)

Products tested

39 rice products for babies and toddlers found in Australian supermarkets

milk formula powder, cereal, crackers and pasta made from brown, white, organic and non-organic rice

11 brands from six countries (Australia, Thailand, China, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United States)

Products tested first for total arsenic, those with high initial results tested specifically for inorganic arsenic

Key Findings

75% of products tested had concentrations of inorganic arsenic that exceeded the EU guideline for safe rice consumption for babies and toddlers

Infant rice-based foods imported from China, which has some of the world’s strictest rice safety standards, had the lowest levels of total arsenic on average (0.10mg/kg)

Products imported from the US had the highest average levels of total arsenic (0.24mg/kg). The US is one of the countries most affected by arsenic contamination of groundwater, which is heavily used in irrigation

There was more total arsenic in brown rice crackers (0.17mg/kg) than white rice crackers (0.095mg/kg), likely because arsenic is more concentrated in the rice bran that is removed in white rice

Babies and children aged up to 5 who have a large amount of rice pasta or rice crackers in their diet may have an unacceptable risk of exposure to arsenic

Rice milk formula and cereal, when mixed with water or milk, pose less risk to babies and children when consumed in moderation

Media enquiries: Gosia Kaszubska, +61 417 510 735 or gosia.kaszubska@rmit.edu.au.