Brown Rice Poses a Hidden Danger to Children

A new study has found that brown rice contains approximately 40% more toxic inorganic arsenic than white rice, because the arsenic is concentrated in the bran layer.

Children under 5, particularly those between 6 and 24 months of age, are at the highest risk from arsenic in brown rice, given the amount of food they eat relative to their body weight.

Rice and Arsenic

According to Study Finds, for most adults, arsenic from rice consumption does not pose a significant health risk, but parents are advised to balance brown and white rice in their children's diets.

The study, conducted at Michigan State University, found that the nutritionally distinct part of brown rice—the bran—also contains the dangerous inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen.

The research suggests that this "healthy food" may carry a hidden danger—much higher levels of toxic arsenic—than its white counterpart.

The researchers warned in their findings that both "rice bran and brown rice contain arsenic, and inorganic arsenic concentrations, higher than white rice."

This higher concentration occurs because arsenic from soil and water accumulates primarily in the outer layers of rice grains—specifically, in the parts removed during processing to produce white rice.

Limited Risk to Adults

The researchers said that the differences in arsenic exposure between brown and white rice are unlikely to pose significant health risks to adults.

However, the study raises particular concerns about young children—especially those under the age of 5.

In the study's tests, children aged 6 to 24 months who regularly ate brown rice showed particularly concerning exposure levels, as their inorganic arsenic intake may exceed safety thresholds previously set by international food safety bodies.

Safe Arsenic Limit

Researchers have estimated that some infants and young children who eat brown rice may be ingesting arsenic at levels as high as 0.295 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, exceeding the recommended safe limit of 0.21 micrograms.

Rice naturally absorbs more arsenic than most crops, absorbing nearly 10 times more arsenic from the soil than other grains. Because rice grows in flooded fields, once absorbed through the roots, arsenic is concentrated in the outer layers of the rice grains.

Scientists have identified several forms of arsenic in rice, but inorganic arsenic is of greatest concern; this type is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by international health authorities.