Common Rice Variety Poses Health Risk, Especially to Children, Expert Warns
Madrid, Spain – A widely available type of rice sold in Spanish supermarkets may present a health risk, particularly for children, according to food technology expert Dr. Manuel Manzano. A recent study reveals notable arsenic levels in various rice products, with integral rice topping the list at up to 131 micrograms per kilo.
The research, conducted by Alimente, a publication of El Confidencial, found that while arsenic levels vary by type, integral rice and rice pancakes contain the highest concentrations. “Even if you don’t eat a kilo of pancakes, The worrying thing is the concentration they can have,” Dr. manzano cautioned. Vaporized rice and long white rice contain the least arsenic, registering 38 and 49 micrograms per kilo respectively.
The study detailed arsenic levels in other common rice-based products: rice vegetable drinks contained a minimal 5 micrograms per kilo, children’s food pouches averaged 6 micrograms, rice noodles reached 26 micrograms, breakfast cereals 28 micrograms, and children’s porridge up to 39 micrograms. Dr. Manzano emphasized children are particularly vulnerable, stating, ”In children the exhibition must be minimal, because their tolerance is three times less than that of adults.”
Dr. Manzano recommends diversifying diets and limiting overall rice consumption for both adults and children. Simple readiness techniques, such as soaking rice for several hours before cooking or boiling it in excess water and discarding the runoff, can also help reduce arsenic exposure.”These are small gestures that They help reduce exposure, but the basic thing is to diversify the diet,” he stressed. Rice is a staple food in Spain,found in nearly every household,making the findings particularly relevant for consumers.