FDA Takes Action: Proposes Limit on Arsenic
The Issue
Arsenic in Baby Foods
On April 1, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposal to limit inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal to 100 ppb—very close to the level we recommended more than three years ago. While we are pleased with this development, we remain concerned that so many other rice-based products consumed by children and adults remain without any standards at all, and we will be pushing the agency to take additional steps. Read our comment
Comment to FDA – arsenic in infant rice cereals – July 19, 2016
Background
The Impact of Our Work
At Consumer Reports, we first identified the risk of arsenic in the food supply in 2011 when we reported on the high levels of the toxin in apple and grape juice. We called for the agency to take action and the FDA responded in 2013 by proposing a threshold. We published on the risks of arsenic in rice in 2012 and 2014, conducted extensive risk assessments, and recommended limits on rice and rice-based products. See Our Work
Arsenic in your juice. How much is too much? January 2012
Arsenic in your food. Our findings show a real need for federal standards for this toxin. November 2012
How much arsenic is in your rice? November 2014
In the News
Media Coverage of Our Arsenic Work
The April 2016 FDA proposal to limit inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal to 100 ppb was covered extensively in the media. Arsenic Media Coverage
NBC Nightly News
The Washington Post
The Wall Street Journal
U.S. News and World Report
Reuters