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Moureen Karim
Professor Tyson
Chemistry 101 Summer Session 1
25 June 2014
Position Paper
The past few decades have let to great strides in the study of arsenic and its
presence in our everyday foods; including rice, fruit juices, and even simple drinking
water. With new data about how consistently it can be found in our regular diets, the
general conclusion has been that there is a necessity for new regulations, taking into
account the findings of various studies and how dangerous arsenic can be to the publics
health and wellbeing. Therefore, it is clearly necessary that there is a limit for the arsenic
concentration in food.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, states that it has been
monitoring arsenic levels in foods for decades, increasing its testing in 2011. It becomes
evident, therefore, that arsenic levels have become worrisome enough to warrant
increased testing. Currently, the only restriction present is a 10 ppb level of arsenic in
drinking water. They completed tests on about 1,100 samples of rice and rice products
and released the analytical results on September 6, 2013.1 Their findings found that, in
rice grains, the average levels of inorganic arsenic ranged from 2.6 to 7.2 micrograms per
serving. As has been seen before, brown rice was at the higher end of this spectrum while
instant rice was at the lower end. In overall rice products, inorganic arsenic ranged from
0.1 to 6.6 micrograms per serving. In this case, infant formula was at the lower end and
rice pasta was at the higher end. They are therefore continuously warning consumers to

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limit their diets of these foods by suggesting well-balanced diets and minimizing the
consumption in excess of any one food.2 They also recommend thoroughly rinsing rice
when consumed, and cooking it in larger volumes of water in order to reduce its arsenic
content. They also state that these actions may decrease the foods nutritional value. It
seems reasonable to suggest that if the FDA is suggesting such moves and lifestyle
adjustments on the side of the consumer, they should control manufacturers to prevent the
existence of these harmful foods in grocery shop aisles in the first place.3
Regulations for arsenic in our food are necessary because of the sheer danger in not
having them in place. It is impossible to spread the FDAs word to everyone about arsenic
and how to prevent its consequences when potentially harmful foods are already present
in many families kitchens. Facts from the World Health Organization state that inorganic
arsenic is highly toxic. In fact, long-term exposure to it from drinking water and food can
cause cancer and skin lesions; it has even been associated with developmental effects,
cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity, and diabetes.4 If the FDA was able to take the time
and resources to test over 1,000 rice and rice product samples and conclude that it would
be best if the public took caution around these items, it should be obvious that further
steps are necessary. Therefore, in the coming years the FDA should look into making
these popular foods safer for everyone to consume.

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Bibliography and Further Reading

1 "Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products." FDA. U.S. Department Health & Human Services, 12 Sept.
2013. Web. 23 June 2014.
<http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm319870.htm>.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 "Arsenic." WHO. Dec. 2012. Web. 22 June 2014.
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs372/en/>.