The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has issued a warning about the arsenic content in certain types of rice. Thanks to a study they have carried out, they have detected arsenic, a metalloid present in rice, which can cause a series of health problems, including skin lesions, metabolic disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. The research indicated that brown rice is the variety that contains the highest amount of arsenic, 131 micrograms per kg on average.

For this analysis, 136 types of supermarket rice were evaluated, with the objective of determining the levels of arsenic in each one. The results revealed that brown rice and rice pancakes are the foods that accumulate the highest concentrations of this metalloid.

This raises concerns especially for those who base their diet on these products, as they could exceed the parameters established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The OCU has analyzed the following varieties of this cereal “all raw and as they are in the packaging”, as indicated in their report: white short grain and long grain, steamed, pre-cooked, Asian/basmati, whole grain all in raw. Furthermore, in the same research they examined the following derivatives: pancakes, drinks, noodles, breakfast cereals, cereal porridges and children’s jars.

In the investigation they detected that brown rice and pancakes are the products that contain the most arsenic. Furthermore, the presence of this content was detected in cereal porridges “in quantities that could exceed the reference value for a baby.”

As detailed by the entity in its report, “an adult weighing 75 kg could eat up to 171 g of brown rice and 162 g of pancakes daily (one or the other, not together in one day).” However, this amount is significantly more than the typical amount of rice consumed in a meal. For children and adolescents, the risk of exceeding the safety limits is even greater, due to their lower body weight.

Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of diversifying the diet to reduce arsenic exposure, especially for those who consume large amounts of rice. The OCU also offered practical tips to reduce the amount of arsenic in rice, such as soaking, washing and cooking with excess water.