Arsenic Levels In Brown Rice Ingredients

We understand that levels of inorganic arsenic in rice is of concern in some parts of the world. That is why Growing Naturals is committed to using brown rice ingredients that provide health benefits while being manufactured in a way that ensures there is no notable inorganic arsenic level.

What is Dartmouth's study on arsenic in brown rice syrup, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives? This study published February 2012 can be found here. It is one in a series of studies looking at arsenic levels in food. The stated goal of the study is to encourage the FDA to set regulations for arsenic levels in food, which we agree with. Unfortunately, the study has resulted in misunderstandings and unnecessary fear among consumers because:

1. It compares the levels of arsenic in food to the levels of arsenic in water, which is not comparing "apples to apples". When issuing new food guidelines, the FDA often applies a multiplication factor of 100 to 1,000 times that of water. This is because the recommended intake of water is "8 glasses of water every day" but when was the last time you ate "8 glasses of brown rice every day"? In reality, your daily intake of any one food ingredient will be significantly smaller than that of water thus the chances of arsenic building up in your system is significantly less. 2. It doesn't fully address the difference between inorganic arsenic (which poses a health risk) vs. organic arsenic (which is not known to pose a health risk and is actually needed in low levels by the human body as noted here).

How much arsenic is in our brown rice ingredients? We want to assure you that our brown rice ingredients do not pose an inorganic arsenic risk. Our brown rice ingredients undergo 3rd party and FDA testing, as we already self-regulate our arsenic levels. The reports find that our levels are either "not detectable" or less than 1ppm (part per million), and only for organic arsenic which is not deemed a risk. What are acceptable levels of inorganic and organic arsenic levels? According to California's regulations under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (commonly referred to as "Prop 65", which is significantly stricter than the FDA on many levels), there is a "Safe Harbor" list of two classes of chemicals: those that cause reproductive toxicity and those that are considered carcinogens. - The table of chemicals that cause reproductive toxicity does not list arsenic. - The table of "no significant risk levels" for carcinogens lists only inorganic arsenic and does not recognize organic arsenic as a potential for risk. In addition, Prop 65's requirements are based on exposure, not concentration. The regulations state that human consumption of food does not constitute "exposure" for purposes of warning notification under the Act to the extent that chemicals are naturally-occurring in agricultural products, were not added by any known human activity, and were not avoidable by good agricultural or good manufacturing practices