Studies reveal unsafe level of arsenic in baby rice food on UK market
A recent study by CAS researchers and their UK co-worker found that some baby rice on sale in British supermarkets contains a high level of inorganic arsenic, a carcinogen. The discovery was made by Prof. Andy Meharg from the UK University of Aberdeen, and Prof. ZHU Yongguan and Dr. SUN Guoxin from the CAS Center for Ecology and Environmental Research.
"It is of considerable concern that food arsenic levels are not regulated in the EU," Prof. Meharg was reported as saying. Thirty-five per cent of the baby food the researchers analysed had levels of inorganic arsenic that would make them illegal in China. which has a food limit of 0.15 milligrams per kilogram.
The researchers found that a child eating three servings a day of the rice with the highest levels would have up to six times the maximum safe level of inorganic arsenic under EU water regulations. The study also found high levels of inorganic arsenic in other rice foods fed to babies, including puffed rice cereals, pasta, noodles, and puddings.
The observation was published in a recent issue of Environmental Pollution and has aroused wide concern in the public.
