Skip to content
Poison Control - National Capital Poison Center
Call a poison centerGet help online
Loading Theme Toggle

Arsenic in baby rice cereals

Test Image

The bottom line

Arsenic can cause severe health effects after high-level or chronic exposures. Arsenic is present in rice and is also found in infant rice cereal. Fortunately, the relatively short duration of time in which infants are given rice cereal in their diets significantly reduces the risk of arsenic poisoning. Providing a balanced diet can help reduce an infant's exposure to arsenic.

Prevention Tips

  • Talk with your infant’s pediatrician about how to safely incorporate a variety of healthy foods, including grains and other cereals (such as oat, barley, or multigrain cereal), into your baby’s diet. A varied diet will help your little one explore new food flavors and textures and might help prevent picky eating habits in the future!

  • If you have purchased the recalled Beech-Nut Rice Cereal (product codes: 103470XXXX and 093470XXXX, expiration date 01 May 2022), stop using this product. You can contact the manufacturer by calling 1-866-272-9417 or go here for information on how to obtain a refund or exchange.

This Really Happened

In June 2021, Beech-Nut Nutrition recalled a single lot of Beech-Nut Stage 1 Single Grain Rice Cereal. The recall occurred after a routine testing program in the State of Alaska found that the cereal contained levels of inorganic arsenic that exceeded FDA thresholds. Due to concerns that the company would have difficulties keeping the arsenic in the cereal low enough to meet FDA standards, Beech-Nut has decided to completely stop manufacturing its Single Grain Rice Cereal product.

The full story

Rice cereal has been a staple of infant diets for decades. It is often one of the first foods introduced by parents into their baby’s diet after breast milk or infant formula. Like other grains, rice is planted in the ground. During the growing process, rice plants may be exposed to arsenic and other heavy metals that are naturally present in soil as well as in water used for irrigation. This accumulation of arsenic in the rice plant results in the presence of arsenic in infant rice cereal.

Arsenic has been recognized as a poison for hundreds of years. The actual toxicity of arsenic depends on its form (inorganic or organic) as well as the dose and duration of exposure. For example, a brief exposure to many types of organic arsenic may be completely nontoxic, but a chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic may cause significant signs and symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of arsenic poisoning depend on the duration and extent of arsenic exposure. A sudden (acute) exposure to inorganic arsenic may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Years of chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic can lead to skin changes, heart disease, and even cancer. People who have no symptoms at all after eating arsenic are unlikely to have arsenic poisoning.

Arsenic levels in drinking water are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but until recently, there were limited regulations concerning the presence of arsenic in food. In August 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized thresholds for heavy metals, including arsenic, in infant rice cereal. Because of these new regulations, one company has recalled one lot of rice cereal due to elevated arsenic levels found in the product, and has decided to stop manufacturing infant rice cereal altogether due to concerns over the company’s ability to remain within the FDA thresholds for arsenic in its rice cereal. Fortunately, however, since most children are exposed to rice cereal for a short duration of time and also eat a variety of other foods which results in a decreased overall exposure to arsenic, it is unlikely that the arsenic contained in rice cereal will result in any significant toxic effects in the short- or long-term.

If you or a loved one have a question about an arsenic exposure, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Share This:
Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD,
Medical Toxicologist

References

Carignan CC, Punshon T, Karagas MR, Cottingham KL. Potential Exposure to Arsenic from Infant Rice Cereal. Ann Glob Health. 2016 Jan-Feb;82(1):221-4.

Gu Z, de Silva S, Reichman SM. Arsenic Concentrations and Dietary Exposure in Rice-Based Infant Food in Australia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 8;17(2):415.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Beech-Nut Nutrition Company issues a voluntary recall of one lot of Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Cereal and also decides to exit the rice cereal segment. Accessed June 11, 2021.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For consumers: seven things pregnant women and parents need to know about arsenic in rice and rice cereal. Accessed June 11, 2021.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Supporting document for action level for inorganic arsenic in rice cereals for infants. Accessed June 11, 2011.

Related Articles

Back to blog
  • woman cleaning carrots

    Campylobacter food poisoning: Don’t risk it

    Campylobacter is 1 of the most common causes of bacterial diarrhea. The illness is campylobacteriosis. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and pain. Campylobacter is found on raw vegetables, dairy products, poultry, and meat. It is also in the stool of contaminated people and animals. Treatment is mostly supportive; stay hydrated.

    Find out more
  • kombucha

    Kombucha tea: Health tonic or dangerous?

    Kombucha tea is a slightly effervescent, slightly alcoholic liquid for which many health claims are made. Home-brewed kombucha tea has been associated with several adverse health events. There are no scientific studies to support the many health claims made for kombucha tea, though it has a long history of use.

    Find out more
  • fish on ice

    Food poisoning from fish: Scombroid

    Scombroid poisoning occurs when people eat fish that were not properly stored. The appearance and taste of the fish is usually normal and cooking or freezing the fish cannot prevent scombroid. Scombroid poisoning can be scary and uncomfortable, but most people recover with simple treatment.

    Find out more
  • listeria culture plate next to lettuce

    What is Listeria?

    Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial species that causes foodborne illness in humans. Listeria infection can occur after consumption of contaminated meats, dairy products, and produce. Pregnant women, children, and people with compromised immune systems are at high risk for severe complications of Listeria infection.

    Find out more
  • jewelry

    Unusual sources of lead poisoning

    At one time, the usual sources of lead poisoning were lead paint and leaded gasoline. Now, more unusual sources of lead poisoning include jewelry, cosmetics, imported herbal and traditional medicines, and even hobby supplies. Lead poisoning damages the nervous system but the symptoms can be misleading. Lead poisoning can only be diagnosed with a blood test.

    Find out more