Capitol News

Researchers at Michigan State University have published a study revealing that brown rice contains higher levels of arsenic than white rice among U.S. consumers. This finding challenges the common perception that brown rice is automatically healthier due to its higher nutrient and fiber content.

The study, led by Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and University Distinguished Professor at MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, emphasizes the need to consider both nutrition and food safety when making dietary choices. Wu notes, "This research is important because it acknowledges the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when consumers make choices about food."

While the study found higher arsenic levels in brown rice, particularly concerning for U.S. infants and children under five, Wu clarifies that, "the levels should not cause long-term health problems unless someone ate an enormous amount of brown rice every day for years."

Wu and the study's lead author, Christian Scott, assessed arsenic exposure using data from the "What We Eat in America" database provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Their analysis revealed geographic differences in arsenic levels, with rice grown in the U.S. containing lower inorganic arsenic compared to rice grown globally.

The study highlights certain vulnerable populations, including young children, Asian immigrants, and those facing food insecurity, as being more susceptible to arsenic exposure due to higher rice consumption. Nevertheless, Wu advises against interpreting these findings as a directive to avoid brown rice entirely. "This exposure assessment is only one side of the equation," Wu explains, mentioning the nutritional benefits of brown rice, such as fiber, protein, and niacin.

Wu and Scott call for further empirical analysis to weigh the societal public health costs and benefits of consuming brown versus white rice. They identify chronic arsenic exposure as a potential cancer risk, emphasizing the need for informed consumer decisions.

The Food and Drug Administration's Closer to Zero initiative will soon establish action levels for arsenic in food products, underscoring the importance of consumer awareness regarding arsenic levels, particularly in brown rice, a major source of dietary arsenic.

Wu concludes, "As Americans try to eat healthily and look to incorporate higher-nutrition content choices in their diets, this study challenges the notion that these choices are simply black and white — or in this case, brown and white."