Results of our tests of rice and rice products

We tested 223 samples* of packaged, uncooked rice and rice-containing foods and beverages purchased in
April, May and August 2012, many from the New York metropolitan area and from online retailers. A
minimum of three samples of each product were analyzed and for the majority of the 65 products we
looked at, we tested one sample from each of three lots. For the rice, the country or state(s) of origin
column indicates in which country or state the rice was grown; in two instances, that information was not
available. There's no federal limit for arsenic in most food. Our findings are a spot check of the market and
are too limited to offer general conclusions about arsenic levels in specific brands or within/across rice
product categories. In addition to test results for total arsenic, lead and cadmium, the table below displays
test results for inorganic arsenic species, which are classified as human carcinogens, and organic arsenic
species, which may also be a health concern. The two species of inorganic arsenic listed in the table are
arsenite [As (III)] and arsenate [As(V)] and the two species of organic forms of arsenic are dimethylarsinic
acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA).

Product

Origin

Lot
Total
number arsenic
(ppb)

Inorganic Percent of Organic Total

arsenic sum inorganic arsenic
lead
(ppb)
arsenic
sum (ppb) (ppb)

Total
cadmium
(ppb)

Rice
365 Everyday Value Long Grain
Brown (Whole Foods)
365 Everyday Value Organic
Indian Basmati White
(Whole Foods)
365 Everyday Value Organic Thai
Jasmine White (Whole Foods)
Archer Farms Organic Basmati
(Target)
Archer Farms Organic Jasmine
(Target)
Cajun Country Enriched Long
Grain
Cajun Country Popcorn Long
Grain
Canilla Extra Long Grain Enriched

Carolina Enriched Extra Long

Grain

Carolina Jasmine Enriched Thai

Fragrant Long Grain
Carolina Whole Grain Brown

Della Basmati Brown

Della Basmati White

Doguet's Brown

Doguet's Enriched Long Grain

Goya Enriched Medium Grain

Great Value Brown (Walmart)

Great Value Parboiled (Walmart)

Jazzmen Louisiana Aromatic

Brown
Jazzmen Louisiana Aromatic
White
Lundberg California White
Basmati

Lundberg Short Grain Brown

Mahatma Extra Long Grain

Enriched
Market Pantry Enriched Long
Grain White (Target)
Martin Long Grain Brown

Martin Long Grain Enriched

Rice Select Organic Texmati

White
Texas Best Organics Long Grain
Brown
Texas Best Organics Long Grain
White
Trader Joe's White Basmati
From India
Uncle Ben's Original Enriched
Parboiled Long Grain
Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown

NA

India

Thailand

India

Thailand

Louisiana

Louisiana

USA

AR, LA, TX

Thailand

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

1
2
2
1
2
3
1
1
2
3
1

282
255
210
99.9
82.2
97.7
150
116
104
62.7
81.7
54.7
112
121
115
328
348
331
350
436
377
198
431
286
194
194
236
144
159

179
186
165
64.7
64.1
78.5
66.2
64.2
60.0
29.4
49.2
30.1
60.3
75.5
86.9
107
106
116
86.5
112
117
70.0
159
96.3
85.5
85.2
107
75.2
67.0

63.4%
72.9
78.5
64.8
78.0
80.3
44.1
55.3
57.7
46.9
60.2
55.0
53.8
62.4
75.6
32.5
30.5
35.0
24.7
25.8
31.1
35.4
36.8
33.7
44.1
43.9
45.4
52.2
42.1

66.9
45.0
44.4
15.4
17.0
16.9
57.3
52.2
48.0
21.0
21.7
20.6
36.2
42.1
41.0
173
145
179
177
280
298
77.6
231
218
83.9
107
154
88.4
66.0

0.7
1.1
1.1
2.4
2.1
1.1
2.7
2.1
2.2
11.8
2.2
4.7
0.9
2.2
1.7
1.9
2.2
< 2.5 U
3.3
< 2.5 U
1.2
1.6
5.9
2.4
3.2
4.4
1.5
0.9
1.1

27.1
27.2
33.7
9.3
11.3
7.5
6.5
3.6
4.2
51.1
38.8
47.5
12.7
21.4
20.3
14.9
25.8
16.8
23.1
29.1
22.9
16.5
26.2
36.7
9.7
10.3
36.5
18.9
7.9

119

70.1

58.9

61.7

4.4

12.0

3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1

126
307
277
318
308
568
458
193
227
191
294

66.9
143
158
193
131
210
198
77.0
86.1
99.1
125

53.1
46.5
56.9
60.8
42.6
36.9
43.3
39.9
37.9
51.9
42.7

61.0
86.6
118
146
98.6
394
311
54.6
121
60.0
140

6.9
1.5
1.4
1.5
3.2
3.3
1.6
0.5
1.3
0.9
3.9

7.5
10.8
9.8
15.8
40.4
80.3
21.6
8.5
14.9
10.2
21.8

2
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
1

1
1
2
3

339
283
345
219
162
124
297
213
196
212
327
360
214
239
168
138
265
295
237
168
209
180
62.2
66.4
75.5
65.5
204
169
184
284
220
129
254
191
184
398
455
143
113
193
147
133
330
448
917
287
269
252
226
176
138
85.0
86.0
75.9
246
220
245
266
207
285
209

131
141
149
97.4
72.8
80.3
85.0
114
102
116
103
133
151
95.7
91.4
98.4
104
152
191
71.9
90.0
85.4
34.4
32.2
35.4
27.9
84.5
119
96.7
110
102
75.8
98.1
103
89.6
214
211
82.2
83.7
59.5
50.7
76.2
83.5
106
102
98.6
169
92.7
92.8
71.2
96.0
55.1
63.6
57.4
141
130
137
143
129
149
127

38.5
49.8
43.3
44.5
44.9
64.8
28.6
53.4
51.8
54.9
31.6
37.0
70.4
40.0
54.4
71.3
39.4
51.5
80.5
42.8
43.1
47.4
55.3
48.5
46.9
42.6
41.4
70.4
52.6
38.6
46.2
58.8
38.6
53.9
48.7
53.7
46.3
57.5
74.1
30.8
34.5
57.3
25.3
23.7
11.2
34.4
62.8
36.8
41.1
40.5
69.6
64.8
74.0
75.6
57.2
59.3
55.9
53.9
62.3
52.3
60.9

148
168
153
74.5
114
65.5
169
89.4
112
125
112
106
59.0
61.9
54.8
62.5
186
135
118
67.7
117
108
21.9
21.6
24.7
20.7
79.5
31.8
73.0
148
124
66.3
96.7
92.3
85.6
211
203
42.7
47.3
114
82.8
69.8
210
364
862
159
119
155
79.8
103
78.5
14.9
13.0
17.4
97.9
141
113
112
118
126
81.1

4.8
3.0
5.0
8.2
2.5
4.3
3.0
6.5
4.0
1.2
5.2
7.4
1.7
17.8
9.1
4.9
9.4
3.3
2.6
1.7
2.4
1.8
1.8
0.4
1.8
0.2
2.9
1.0
3.1
2.0
1.3
0.9
5.2
2.8
1.5
1.5
2.7
< 2.5 U
1.3
< 2.5 U
0.9
0.4
1.8
1.0
0.8
2.1
2.0
1.4
1.4
5.1
0.7
2.1
1.0
3.0
3.8
3.2
2.7
3.1
1.5
2.2
2.1

27.6
24.2
29.1
42.3
52.6
31.4
19.7
11.6
14.9
10.2
22.3
20.4
14.6
16.2
8.2
6.5
56.7
9.2
9.8
6.9
9.2
8.9
11.3
11.6
13.6
11.2
5.3
11.3
6.5
27.0
10.8
8.4
19.9
16.4
10.6
27.8
26.7
10.1
7.2
18.8
12.1
15.1
25.1
8.9
7.0
8.6
5.4
6.4
7.0
4.5
4.8
19.3
15.9
13.5
14.6
15.5
15.2
23.5
23.1
9.3
13.7

130

67.1

51.6

32.1

3.8

8.7

110

55.2

50.2

28.5

9.9

5.8

3
1
2
3
1
2

3
3
1
2
3

117
149
257
274
232
264
249
230
97.7
117
329

61.1
116
160
180
109
109
101
108
53.6
65.5
86.0

52.2
78.1
62.1
65.5
46.9
41.1
40.6
46.9
54.9
56.0
26.1

29.2
27.7
57.1
50.2
102
121
78.3
84.4
20.9
44.8
199

7.6
2.5
2.3
1.1
4.3
5.6
12.3
6.8
5.5
8.9
11.9

5.7
20.1
31.7
15.6
23.1
24.6
23.3
22.3
10.9
10.6
14.6

1
2

152
215

103
171

67.7
79.6

37.1
30.4

2.2
0.7

5.4
8.1

100

58.4

58.4

16.2

1.7

3.9

1
2
3

1
1
2
3

157
165
131
91.1
74.4
97.5
80.4

73.8
107
93.9
43.3
45.9
48.8
46.1

47.0
64.6
71.7
47.5
61.7
50.1
57.3

47.4
47.1
17.8
26.1
27.4
31.7
27.1

0.6
< 0.5 U
1.5
< 0.4 U
< 0.4 U
< 0.4 U
< 0.5 U

6.9
4.5
2.4
6.1
6.5
5.3
6.2

1
2
3
1
2
3

963
398
399
371
376
326

126
129
120
197
222
199

13.1
32.4
30.1
53.1
58.9
61.0

765
259
270
169
162
128

7.5
6.4
11.7
9.0
5.8
6.8

11.9
5.3
18.4
8.5
10.0
7.6

1
1
2
3
1

252
240
256
344
168
169
171
196
126
125
123
212
243
228

127
127
125
132
75.9
78.0
72.7
86.0
90.1
88.7
84.1
96.4
101
96.0

50.6
52.9
48.8
38.3
45.2
46.2
42.5
43.9
71.5
71.0
68.4
45.5
41.5
42.1

101
102
103
214
85.2
88.1
91.0
101
25.6
26.1
27.1
100
136
123

10.0
7.6
7.4
7.6
< 1.9 U
3.8
3.2
2.3
2.5
5.6
2.3
4.2
3.7
4.0

14.3
14.6
16.8
13.2
7.4
31.7
30.9
11.8
4.6
5.2
7.1
7.5
9.9
8.1

113

40.6

35.9

49.5

4.7

3.4

2
3
1
2
3
1

160
208
199
102
112
195
171
179
161
239
205
208
347
254
244
397

40.1
40.9
107
58.9
62.5
90.5
113
90.0
74.5
112
90.2
100
280
138
136
198

25.1
19.7
53.8
57.7
55.8
46.4
66.3
50.3
46.3
47.0
44.0
48.2
80.8
54.5
55.6
49.9

68.7
86.1
40.4
16.0
17.9
64.8
56.2
38.3
54.3
73.3
69.9
62.4
87.8
46.0
52.7
69.7

3.9
6.4
3.0
2.4
1.7
0.8
2.4
2.9
< 0.6 U
3.3
1.9
3.0
3.8
5.5
6.2
3.5

4.6
4.5
13.5
7.0
7.6
6.8
7.1
6.1
7.2
11.1
24.0
26.0
14.4
36.0
35.4
17.9

2
2
3

85.3
82.8
98.4
300
280
271
214
249
190
347
389
379
361

55.7
52.5
47.6
137
125
133
77.1
104
80.4
118
126
124
107

65.3
63.4
48.4
45.7
44.6
49.2
36.0
41.6
42.3
33.9
32.4
32.8
29.8

23.0
24.1
34.2
156
111
116
114
142
88.1
218
253
240
207

9.6
5.4
5.6
7.0
6.6
8.7
9.6
52.8
12.6
4.5
4.5
5.0
6.4

10.0
11.1
13.0
17.6
16.9
17.5
11.4
17.9
14.3
6.7
8.8
9.3
6.7

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

361
565
540
373
424
180
254
209
161

184
159
145
99.3
93.1
59.1
96.5
78.4
68.9

51.1
28.1
26.8
26.6
22.0
32.8
38.0
37.5
42.8

158
350
306
238
284
79.4
129
109
74.9

4.1
3.7
3.2
2.9
4.2
5.1
7.9
1.7
9.7

18.3
12.3
10.6
8.0
10.0
4.2
13.8
24.9
7.9

1
2
3

1
1
2
3

18.0
17.2
17.1
70.1
66.3
20.9
37.1

12.8
14.5
16.1
12.0
11.5
14.1
18.4

71.1
84.3
94.2
17.1
17.3
67.5
49.6

4.3
5.3
3.4
61.4
58.6
9.4
24.9

1.0
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.4
1.0

0.3
0.3
0.9
0.7
0.5
0.4
0.7

1
2
3
1

193
182
176
178

139
129
142
136

72.2
70.8
80.9
76.6

38.8
44.3
29.1
30.1

1.7
0.5
0.6
0.4

0.8
0.8
0.7
1.4

180

141

78.3

36.7

0.5

1.2

167

111

66.5

36.5

1.7

1.2

1
1
1
1

4.4
5.7
4.6
7.3

3.0
3.5
3.5
7.2

68.2
61.4
76.1
98.6

2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8

2.7
2.7
2.9
2.7

< 0.2 U
0.6
0.2
0.3

AR, LA, TX

Arkansas

Arkansas

USA

USA

NA
USA
USA
USA

USA

Louisiana

Louisiana

California

California

USA

AR, LA, TX

Missouri

Missouri

Texas

Texas

Texas

India

USA

USA

2
2
3
1
2
3

1
1
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

Baby Cereal
Beech-Nut Homestyle Rice

Earth's Best Organic Whole

Grain Rice

Gerber Rice

Gerber SmartNourish Organic

Brown Rice

Hot Cereal
Bob's Red Mill Brown Rice Farina
Creamy Rice

Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown

Rice Farina Creamy Rice
Cream of Rice

READY-TO-EAT Cereal
Arrowhead Mills Organic
Sweetened Rice Flakes

Barbara's Brown Rice Crisps

General Mills Rice Chex Gluten

Free

Kellogg's Rice Krispies

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten

Free

Trader Joe's Crisp Rice Cereal

3
1
2
3
1
2
3

Rice Cakes & Crackers

Asian Gourmet Plain

Edward & Sons Organic Brown

Rice Snaps Unsalted Plain

Lundberg Brown Rice Organic

Quaker Lightly Salted

Suzie's Whole Grain Thin Cakes

2
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
2
3

Rice Pasta
Annie Chun's Maifun Rice
Noodles

DeBoles Rice Spirals

Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta Shells

Trader Joe's Organic Brown Rice

Pasta Fusilli

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1

Rice Flour
Arrowhead Mills Organic Brown

Arrowhead Mills Organic White

Goya Enriched

Rice drinks
Pacific Rice Low Fat Plain
Beverage
Rice Dream Original Classic Rice
Drink

Rice syrup
Lundberg Sweet Dreams
Eco-Farmed Brown
Lundberg Sweet Dreams Organic
Brown

Rice Vinegar
Asian Gourmet Plain

Total arsenic, lead and cadmium by ICP-DRC-MS with reporting limits of 0.2-4.0 ppb for arsenic, 0.1-2.5 ppb for lead and 0.1-5.6 ppb for
cadmium. Arsenic species by IC-ICP-DRC-MS with the following reporting limits: 0.2-2.3 ppb for As(III), 0.8-4.4 ppb for As(V), 1.3-2.8 ppb
for DMA and 0.8 -2.9 ppb for MMA. The limits of quantification (LOQ) for all analyses reflect the instrument performance on the date of
analysis.
Unless noted, each row represents a unique sample from the lot indicated.
For calculation of sums of arsenic species, all values reported as less than the reporting limits were applied as 100% of the reporting
limits. Total inorganic arsenic is the sum of arsenite [As (III)] and arsenate [As(V)] and total organic arsenic is the sum of DMA and MMA.
Percent inorganic species is calculated using the sum of the inorganic arsenic species divided by the total arsenic. The sum of all arsenic
species may not add up to the total arsenic due to different methods used for the two analyses.
Blind duplicates of the same sample.
Two individual samples from the same online purchase were tested.
No lot codes on product.
Rice is grown in one or more of these states.
Four separate samples were tested, two from each of two online purchases of the product (listed in order received).
NA=not available. * These include tests of blind duplicates of the same sample.
2012 Consumer Reports. All rights reserved.