Is eating rice slowly killing you? While most people think of rice as one of the healthiest foods, new research shows that arsenic levels in rice are on the rise. A big problem in the developing world, where rice is often grown in contaminated water, it is a growing problem in the UK too. The solution? Soak your rice overnight in a 5:1 ratio of water to rice. Also, to be safe while more studies are underway, limit rice consumption in infants and young children.
Key Takeaways:
- Many of us are regular consumers of rice – UK consumption is on the rise, and in 2015 we ate 150m kg of the stuff.
- Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, and inorganic arsenic is classified as a category one carcinogen by the EU, meaning that it’s known to cause cancer in humans.
- The consequences of arsenic poisoning have been seen most dramatically in Bangladesh, where populations have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.
“Because arsenic exists in soil, small amounts can get into food, though in general these levels are so low that they’re not a cause for concern.”