Brown rice has long been believed to be a healthier alternative to white. But a new
Consumer Reports analysis has found levels of arsenic are higher in brown vs. white rice.
The review, published online and in the January 2015 magazine edition, found the source and type of rice matter, and that children are especially vulnerable to going over recommended arsenic levels,
Fox News reports.
The findings are based on analyses by the Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center, which tested 128 samples of white, basmati, and jasmine rice. They also rely on tests and data from a 2012 Consumer Reports rice study, Food and Drug Administration checks. All told, the report takes 697 samples into account.
Among the key findings:
- Brown rice actually contains 80 percent more arsenic than white rice because arsenic accumulates in the grain's outer layers.
- Geography clearly affects levels of toxicity — basmati rice from California contains the lowest levels of arsenic, for instance, while Texas rice ranks among the highest.
- Other grains that take up less arsenic from soil include buckwheat, millet, barley, and farro.
- Washing rice can reduce up to 30 percent of the rice's arsenic, but also removes some nutrients.
The FDA, meanwhile, says assessing arsenic in rice is a top priority.
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