21 May 2009

The Food Standards Agency has today announced the results of a survey of total and inorganic arsenic levels in 60 samples of rice drinks available in the UK. Rice drink (also known as rice milk) is a blend of filtered water and rice and is usually marketed as either a 'dairy free-alternative to cows' milk' or a 'low-fat drink' and are usually often consumed by those who wish to avoid dairy foods. Some toddlers and young children who are allergic to cows' milk and soya drink are currently advised to use calcium fortified rice drinks.

Arsenic occurs naturally at low levels as organic and inorganic forms in a wide range of foods. Most arsenic in the diet is present in the less harmful organic form but the inorganic form is known to cause cancer. Low levels of inorganic arsenic were detected in rice drinks (12 ?g/kg of rice drink). None of the samples tested in the survey were above the legal limits. The Committee on Toxicity has not been able to set specific thresholds of exposure (tolerable intakes) for inorganic arsenic, and has advised that exposure to arsenic should be as low as reasonably practicable.

Toddlers/young children may be particularly vulnerable, because of their proportionally higher milk intake and are likely to have higher dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic per kilogram of body weight. A toddler/young child consuming about half a pint of rice drink a day, (instead of cows' milk) is likely to double his total dietary exposure to inorganic arsenic. Therefore, as a precaution, the Department advises against the substitution of breast milk, infant formula, cows' milk or soya drink with rice drinks for toddlers and young children aged 1-5 years.