Ivory Coast
Ocean Princess is not Probo Koala: truths and lies about 18 thousand tons of Burmese rice in Ivory Coast
- Posted by Charles Kouassi
Was there really toxic rice landed at the Port Authority of Abidjan (PAA)? On what basis could it be concluded that the rice in question was toxic? Why despite assurances from stakeholders, has the rumor persisted? Is not this really a manipulation, or rather a commercial and judicial conflict, turned into allegations of toxic rice to win a possible trial, and to the detriment of the welfare of Ivorian consumers, and the integrity of the services concerned by the case in Côte d'Ivoire? Explanations between truths and lies!
How Much Arsenic Is in Your Rice?
In late 2012 we released our original report on arsenic in rice, in which we found measurable levels in almost all of the 60 rice varieties and rice products we tested.
Our most recent testing and analysis gave us some new information on the risk of arsenic exposure in infants and children through rice cereal and other rice products. We looked at data released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products. We found that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic—a carcinogen—than our 2012 data showed. According to the results of our new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice we recommend they should have in a week. Rice cakes supply close to a child's weekly limit in one serving. Rice drinks can also be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn’t drink them instead of milk. (Learn the new rice rules about weekly servings.)
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In 2012, we recommended that babies eat no more than one serving of infant rice cereal per day, on average, and that their diets should include cereals made from other grains. We did not find any reason to change our advice based on our new analysis. When we shared our results with the FDA and asked for comment, the agency reiterated its recommendation that everyone, including pregnant women, infants, and toddlers, should eat a variety of grains. And they pointed out that parents should "consider options other than rice cereal for a child’s first solid food.”
The Trouble With Arsenic
Arsenic has two chemical forms, inorganic and organic (the latter of which can be less toxic), and is naturally part of the minerals in the earth’s crust. (Note, here organic is a chemistry term and should not be confused with food sold as “organic.”) Arsenic also has been released into the environment through the use of pesticides and poultry fertilizer. (Chickens can be fed arsenic.) Therefore, it’s in soil and water. Rice tends to absorb arsenic more readily than many other plants.
Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic can increase the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies also suggest that arsenic exposure in utero may have effects on the baby’s immune system.
The USA Rice Federation says, "Studies show that including white or brown rice in the diet provides measureable health benefits that outweigh the potential risks associated with exposure to trace levels of arsenic." Consumer Reports food safety experts believe those levels do carry a risk.
There is no federal limit for arsenic in rice and rice products. (The FDA has proposed a "action level" for arsenic in juice.) Since 2012, Consumer Reports has been calling on the FDA to set one. The agency told us: "The FDA’s ongoing assessment of arsenic in rice remains a priority for the agency. Last year, the FDA released what we believe to be the largest set of test results to date on the presence of arsenic in rice and rice products, and we are planning to release a draft assessment of the potential health risks associated with the consumption of arsenic in these same foods."
Learn more about Consumer Reports' work related to arsenic and food.
Answering Consumers' Questions
After our 2012 report, we got many questions. Two of the most common: “Are there any types of rice that are lower in arsenic?” and “Do other grains, such as quinoa, contain arsenic, too?” We now have the answers.
In addition to analyzing the FDA data on rice products, scientists at our Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine, and sushi rice for arsenic. We combined the data with the results of our 2012 tests and FDA data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice. We also looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of nonrice grains. (You can read the details of our testing in our full report.)
Nicer Rices
Our latest tests determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was grown. White basmati rice from California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic-arsenic amount of most other types of rice.
Our findings led us to treat those specific rices from those areas differently from other types of rice and rices grown in other regions. Based on our data, we calculated that consumers could have about twice as many weekly servings as we previously recommended if that was the only rice or rice product someone ate. For adults, that adds up to 4½ servings per week; children could have 2¾ servings.
All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating that it’s from Arkansas, Louisiana, or Texas or just from the U.S. had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in our tests. For instance, white rices from California have 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.
Brown rice has 80 percent more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type. Arsenic accumulates in the grain’s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice. Brown has more nutrients, though, so you shouldn’t switch entirely to white. Brown basmati from California, India, or Pakistan is the best choice; it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than other brown rices.
Rice that’s grown organically takes up arsenic the same way conventional rice does, so don’t rely on organic to have less arsenic.
Grains Lower in Arsenic
The gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet, and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. Bulgur, barley, and farro, which contain gluten, also have very little arsenic. Quinoa (also gluten-free), had average inorganic arsenic levels comparable to those of other alternative grains. But some samples had quite a bit more. Though they were still much lower than any of the rices, those spikes illustrate the importance of varying the types of grains you eat.
Cooking to Lower Arsenic Levels
You may be able to cut your exposure to inorganic arsenic in any type of rice by rinsing raw rice thoroughly before cooking, using a ratio of 6 cups water to 1 cup rice, and draining the excess water afterward. That is a traditional method of cooking rice in Asia. The modern technique of cooking rice in water that is entirely absorbed by the grains has been promoted because it allows rice to retain more of its vitamins and other nutrients. But even though you may sacrifice some of rice's nutritional value, research has shown that rinsing and using more water removes about 30 percent of the rice's inorganic arsenic content.
The New Rice Rules: 7 Points per Week
We used our new data and analysis to assign a point value to types of rice foods. On average, we recommend getting no more than 7 points per week. Risk analysis is based on weight, so a serving of any food will give children more points than adults.
- There are good market prospects to accommodate higher rice exports from Myanmar over the next 10-15 years. China is becoming a large net importer of Myanmar rice, and the European Union has opened its markets for duty free imports from Myanmar.
- Strong competition from other exporters in the region – Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia - and constantly rising demand for the higher-quality rice has put pressure on Myanmar’s rice sector which has been focused on low-quality export markets.
- The actual rice export has reached only about 1.3 million tons over the past years that lags behind the government’s target of exporting two million tons of rice this year and four million tons by 2020.
- The most acute problems are low productivity and poor rice quality at the farm level. The average paddy yields of 2.5 tons per hectare are only half of those realized by other exporters in the region.
- The milling sector operates with obsolete processing units that causes about 15-20 percent losses in quality and quantity during the milling.
- Yangon Port, the main export gate, is small, outdated and with limited capacity during monsoons. The export procedure costs are some of the highest in the region.
- Although many barriers to agricultural trade have been abolished, the private sector remains cautious about uncertainties in government actions.
- Provide more accurate market information to participants on production, consumption, exports, and prices in order to allow a smooth functioning of the rice market and enable more informed policy decisions.
- Lift the rules limiting the maturity of commercial loans to 12 months, and broaden the type of assets that can be pledged as collateral in accessing credit.
- Allow direct foreign investment to milling, warehousing and trading and remove the government approval from the investments made through joint ventures.
- Avoid holding large government-owned stocks and using minimum farm prices in order to keep farm production costs competitive and prevent increases in food prices.
- Enhance the predictability of trade policy. Export bans need to be avoided. Once issued, export licenses should not be canceled or subject to higher taxes.
- Lower port charges and reduce export procedure costs. All export procedures and port costs should be revised with a view toward improving the competitiveness of Myanmar rice.
- Update the existing seed management system and prepare a new national seed policy to make the seed industry more competitive. New rice varieties with higher export potential need to be adopted.
- Strengthen public agricultural extension services and engage with the private sector to deliver appropriate and farmer-responsive technology.
- Improve water management and engage farmers into decision making in order to respond to market opportunities and increase the rice production.
- Reduce transport costs by investing in farm-to-market roads.
- Strengthen land tenure security and increase investments into land development, transfer, and consolidation that are needed for farm commercialization.
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