In research provided by the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University, Belfast, of the 81 rice products tested, 58% exceeded new, recommended limits for children’s products.
Inorganic arsenic is found in small levels in many plants, but rice retains higher levels. With Britons consuming 5 times the levels of rice they did 40 years ago, and experts like Professor Andy Meharg warning even the new EU levels are too high, there is Increasing concern. “The limits are set so as not to disrupt the rice trade, rather than on the risk to human health”. Experts say consistent exposure to arsenic is linked to cancer and heart problems.