A shocking report has come to the fore as more than 100 different rice brands in the US have been found to contain high levels of arsenic and cadmium, that are dangerous to human health.
The report says one in four samples of rice from grocery and retail stores across the United States was found to have excessive levels of the heavy metals by the US Food and Drug Administration.
“Even at low levels, both arsenic and cadmium have been linked to serious health harms, including diabetes, developmental delays, reproductive toxicity and heart disease,” coauthor Jane Houlihan of the study told CNN.
“Heavy metal contamination in young children is especially concerning, as early-life exposures are associated with reduced IQ and a range of cognitive and behavioral problems,” Houlihan added.
These toxic heavy metals are sneaking their way into our kitchens and they’re not just gross, they’re seriously harmful to your health.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil and water, but due to pollution and pesticides, levels in rice (especially the kind grown in flooded fields) can be dangerously high. Long-term exposure to arsenic isn’t something to brush off. It’s been linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer. It also messes with your heart, increases your diabetes risk, and can seriously damage your nervous system. And if you’re pregnant? Arsenic can affect fetal development and increase the risk of low birth weight or even miscarriage.
Now let’s talk about cadmium, another toxic metal that’s bad news for your body. It builds up in the kidneys over time, which is a huge problem because kidneys are basically your body’s filtration system. When cadmium damages them, toxins start piling up in your bloodstream. It’s also been tied to weak bones (yes, it can lead to fractures or osteoporosis), lung issues, and an increased risk of cancer, especially in the prostate and lungs. The worst part? Cadmium sticks around in your body for years. So the more you’re exposed, the more it piles up—kind of like a toxic snowball.
And kids? They’re at even greater risk. Their little bodies absorb more arsenic and cadmium than adults, which can lead to developmental delays, learning difficulties, and lower IQ. Even baby rice cereals aren’t always safe, which is seriously disturbing.
So what can you do?
How you cook your rice can definitely make a difference when it comes to arsenic levels.
Rinse it like you mean it
Start by washing your rice thoroughly. Rinse it under cold water several times until the water runs clear. This doesn’t remove all the arsenic (most of it is inside the grain, not just on the surface), but it helps get rid of some of it—plus excess starch and surface contaminants.
Use the parboil-and-drain method
This is one of the most effective ways to slash arsenic levels. Here’s how:
Step 1: Boil rice in a large pot of water—use a ratio of 6:1 or even 10:1 (water to rice)
Step 2: Let it cook until the rice is nearly done.
Step 3: Drain the excess water like you would with pasta.
Research shows this can reduce inorganic arsenic levels by up to 60%! Yes, it might remove a bit of the nutrients too, but the trade-off is often worth it when it comes to reducing toxins.