Research now reveals that rice is highly susceptible to the uptake of arsenic thus the threat to human health and wellbeing is now global.
This report looks at rice; the staple food for over half the world's population.
It will reveal how:-
Research has uncovered that rice and many dietary products derived from rice commercially available on supermarket shelves around the world represent a significant dietary source of inorganic arsenic - a chronic carcinogenic.
'Infants and young children of all ethnicities generally have higher exposures to inorganic arsenic via rice than adults when considered on a body mass basis.' A Professor at the forefront t of this research stated.
Following analysis of UK baby rice it was found that 35% of the baby rice samples analysed would have been illegal for sale in China with its stringent regulatory limit of 0.15 mg/kg inorganic arsenic.
But these findings seem to be just the tip of the iceberg with many other dietary products found to contain elevated levels of carcinogenic inorganic arsenic.
Rice milk for example, often used by vegans and lactose intolerant sufferers as an alternative to cow's milk.
Rice-bran products are becoming an increasingly popular ingredient for use in foods and dietary supplements targeted particularly at 'health food' conscious people.
'Of all the widely available commercial rice products, rice-bran was found to contain the highest arsenic content,' stated the concerned Professor.
A powdered form of rice-bran is produced known as 'rice-bran solubles', and when mixed with water it makes a very 'nutritional' drink.
This product would seem ideal for distribution internationally in food aid programmes to malnourished children in the developing world - which it is.
But should it be?
It seems ironic that rice is the basis of so many products produced which form a large percentage of the food .consumed by health conscious people such as those on a macrobiotic diet. A disturbing fact is that globally many people are oblivious that they could be ingesting rice products containing harmful levels of inorganic arsenic - a chronic human carcinogen.
Something seriously needs to be done. Sooner rather than later, and beyond writing 'health warnings' on food products available in supermarkets
Perhaps now it is evident that this is a global issue and not just confined to affecting people in the developing world. More concern will be given especially by policy makers in addressing this 'mass poisoning of humans'.
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