My trusty MRAN device revealed higher-than-normal levels of arsenic in my system, so I did a little research to find out the possible source. Here’s what I found. The folks at Health Babies Brighter Futures (HBBF) conducted their own independent research to determine which samples of rice contained the highest levels of arsenic and other heavy metals. According to the report:
[Rice] is the top source of arsenic from solid foods in the diets of children under two, and a concern during pregnancy, the most critical window
for brain development. New tests commissioned for this report found arsenic in 100% of 145 rice samples purchased nationwide. More than one in four exceeded the FDA’s action level for infant cereal, a limit above which FDA can consider the cereal to be adulterated. For parents making baby food at home, this means homemade rice cereal could contain arsenic levels considered unsafe if sold in stores.We found four toxic heavy metals in rice — arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. While each contaminant has different health effects, they can contribute to serious risks like cancer, developmental harm including IQ loss, and accumulation in the body over time. Arsenic was found at the highest levels, with cadmium next.
Like many crops, rice absorbs these metals that are naturally present in soil.But rice tends to accumulate significantly more arsenic*, making it a unique and concerning source of exposure. Tests also showed elevated cadmium in
some samples, and, in a saffron-seasoned rice, lead levels far above amounts in other samples.
Therefore, if you want to reduce your exposure, it’s important to know which type of rice is safer than others. Here’s a chart from the report:
The full report is here: https://hbbf.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Arsenic-in-Rice-Report_May2025_R5_SECURED.pdf
