Consumer Reports' latest testing reveals that arsenic, a known carcinogen, is present in every single rice product tested, including infant rice cereals. Of the 52 rice products analyzed, 42% contained inorganic arsenic levels high enough that an adult eating just one serving daily over time would face a significantly increased risk for skin cancer, bladder cancer, and type 2 diabetes. For infants and young children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to heavy metal exposure, the implications are particularly concerning.

The findings underscore a persistent problem in the food supply that regulators and manufacturers have known about for over a decade. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set a limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals, Consumer Reports found that 17 of the products tested averaged 100 ppb or more. The agency can take enforcement actions, including product recalls, when cereals exceed this threshold, but Consumer Reports argues the FDA should establish limits for all rice products, not just those marketed to infants.

Which Types of Rice Have the Lowest Arsenic Levels?

Not all rice is created equal when it comes to arsenic content. Consumer Reports' testing revealed significant variation among rice varieties, offering parents some guidance on lower-risk options. Basmati and sushi rice emerged as the safest choices, with average inorganic arsenic levels of 55 ppb and 57 ppb, respectively. In contrast, arborio rice averaged 64 ppb, jasmine rice 87 ppb, and long and short grain rice both averaged 101 ppb.

Brown rice consistently contained higher arsenic levels than white rice of the same type. Overall, brown rice averaged 113 ppb compared to white rice at 72 ppb. This difference matters significantly for parents choosing between brown and white rice cereals for their babies. While brown rice is often marketed as more nutritious, the arsenic trade-off warrants careful consideration.

How Can Parents Reduce Arsenic Exposure From Rice?

Although arsenic in rice cannot be eliminated entirely, Consumer Reports identified practical steps parents can take to minimize their children's exposure. The most effective intervention involves changing how rice is cooked. Testing of three cooking methods revealed that one approach can eliminate up to 58% of inorganic arsenic from rice.

• Choose Lower-Arsenic Varieties: Select basmati or sushi rice, which tested significantly lower in inorganic arsenic than other common varieties like jasmine or long-grain rice.
• Opt for White Over Brown: When choosing between white and brown rice cereals for infants, white varieties contain approximately 36% less inorganic arsenic on average than brown varieties.
• Diversify Grain Sources: Consumer Reports found good news about alternative grains like farro, quinoa, and sorghum, which may offer lower arsenic exposure compared to rice-based cereals.
• Limit Weekly Servings: Consumer Reports' experts calculated safe serving recommendations based on each product's arsenic content and a child's body weight, accounting for arsenic's effects during critical developmental phases.

Beyond cooking methods and variety selection, parents can also reduce risk by rotating grain sources in their baby's diet. Relying exclusively on rice cereal as a first food, while traditional, concentrates arsenic exposure. Introducing other grains like oatmeal, barley, or quinoa-based cereals earlier in the weaning process provides nutritional variety while spreading heavy metal exposure across multiple food sources.

What Other Heavy Metals Are Present in Rice Products?

Arsenic is not the only concern. Consumer Reports' comprehensive testing also measured cadmium, lead, and mercury in rice products. Detectable levels of arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were found in all 142 samples tested, while lead was detected in 66 of them. The levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury were generally low overall, but certain products warranted caution.

Rice mixes, which combine rice with seasoning, showed higher amounts of lead than plain rice products. Three of the six rice mixes tested contained more than 0.5 microgram of lead per serving, with the lead concentrated in the spice portion. Parents who feed their children rice mixes should be aware of this finding, particularly if their children consume other foods known to contain higher lead levels, such as cassava, sweet potatoes, or dark chocolate.

"As we did more than a decade ago, we found measurable levels of inorganic arsenic in all of the samples of the products," said James E. Rogers, director of food safety at Consumer Reports. "In 42 percent of the products, the average inorganic arsenic levels were high enough that an adult eating just one serving a day over time would have a significantly increased risk for skin cancer, bladder cancer, and type 2 diabetes."

James E. Rogers, Director of Food Safety at Consumer Reports

Has the Arsenic Problem in Rice Improved Since Previous Testing?

Consumer Reports has been monitoring arsenic in rice since 2012, with follow-up testing in 2014. The latest 2026 results show only marginal improvement, if any. Brown rice averaged 113 ppb in the current testing compared to 146 ppb in 2014, and white rice averaged 72 ppb versus 82 ppb previously. However, researchers caution that these small decreases do not represent a meaningful market-wide shift.

Independent testing by Healthy Babies Bright Futures in 2025 corroborates this concern. That organization tested 145 rice samples and found brown rice averaged 129 ppb of inorganic arsenic, with white rice averaging 86 ppb. The consistency of high arsenic levels across multiple independent testing efforts suggests the problem remains stubbornly persistent despite years of awareness among manufacturers and regulators.

For parents navigating infant feeding decisions, the takeaway is clear: arsenic in rice is a real and ongoing concern that requires informed choices. While the FDA's 100 ppb limit for infant rice cereals provides a baseline, Consumer Reports' findings suggest that even products meeting this standard may pose cumulative health risks over time. Diversifying grain sources, selecting lower-arsenic varieties, and employing arsenic-reducing cooking methods represent the most practical strategies available to families today.