Arsenic is a heavy metal that can occur in organic or inorganic form, and to which human beings are exposed through the ingestion of certain foods, as established by the Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN). Given the exposure we have to this contaminant, there are regulations established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that limit its presence in our foods, since excessive consumption of it can have harmful effects on health.
Due to the presence of inorganic arsenic in several of the foods we consume, the European Commission has asked the EFSA to carry out a new review of this compound to take into account new studies on its toxic effects on the body. The study, published on January 18, 2024, reconfirms the findings of the previous evaluation, carried out in 2009. The entity assures that “the increase in the incidence of skin cancers associated with exposure to inorganic arsenic was the most relevant harmful effect “. This, after having calculated a margin of exposure to arsenic by consumers.
The evaluation carried out by the EFSA concludes that high exposure to inorganic arsenic “poses a health problem” for the general population, since frequently consuming foods that usually contain this compound “could be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.” According to the entity, those that contribute the most to arsenic exposure are rice, rice-based products, grains and cereal-based products. In line with this, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) establishes that excessive consumption of arsenic can also cause acute poisoning, with symptoms such as “vomiting, pain in the esophagus and abdomen, and bloody diarrhea.”
Although this may sound especially alarming, it is worth remembering that “there is no need to be alarmed as long as it is not high doses” in the consumption of this compound, as established by the OCU. In addition, they recommend “not overusing any food and following a varied and balanced diet.” As part of peace of mind, nutritionist Núria Monfulleda explains in this report that we can face our exposure to inorganic arsenic with certain changes: “The healthy thing is to stop eating cereals or cookies for breakfast and opt for another type of breakfast, such as eggs.”
Although rice is one of the foods most associated with contamination due to the presence of inorganic arsenic, as Laura Conde explains in this report. Following the line of rice, brown rice pancakes are one of those derivatives that we should not consume in excess. We must also pay special attention to tap water, bivalves and crustaceans such as clams, oysters or mussels, and certain types of algae, especially the hijiki variety.
