by Mary Brune
When it Comes to Rice, Bland Doesn’t Mean Benign
6:30 pm in Children's Health, Food by Mary Brune
Image: vitasamb2001 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I was never much of a rice-eater as a kid. Unless, of course, that rice had gobs of butter melted on it. And it wasn’t until moving to California in the mid-1990s that I developed an appetite for cuisines in which rice is a featured ingredient. Our two kids even like it when it’s wrapped up in a tortilla, or adorned with a heaping pile of black beans. In fact, that’s what we had for dinner just last night.
Fast forward to this morning and imagine my freak-out when I read the latest research out of Dartmouth College that found bland, unassuming rice is a major exposure source for toxic arsenic. According to one statistic, over 3 billion people eat rice every day. That’s a lot of people potentially being exposed to a lot of arsenic.
According to the National Institute for Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), chronic exposure to low doses of arsenic can cause a range of serious health problems, including skin lesions, fatal skin cancer, gangrene, and a range of fatal organ cancers including those initiated in liver, kidney and lungs.
This latest report is actually the second such findings regarding arsenic in rice. The first, released in December 2011 which studied the arsenic levels in the urine of pregnant women, went unnoticed by me much like the rice products present in many processed foods today. That study concluded that rice consumption during pregnancy could expose the fetus to potentially harmful levels of arsenic.
This latest study takes that one step further. Chances are, if you’ve ever looked at the ingredient list on the side of a cereal bar wrapper, you’ve probably seen “brown rice syrup” listed there. Turns out that’s at the heart of the latest concern. The newest study found that baby formula and cereal bars that contained brown rice syrup had higher levels of arsenic. One of the formulas tested had arsenic concentrations up to six times the federal safe drinking water limit.
Last night’s burrito wasn’t my only concern. After reading the study found arsenic in cereal bars, I ran a Google search to find out whether my kids’ favorite snack bars, the Z-bar (made by Clif Bar) contained organic brown rice syrup. Although it wasn’t the first ingredient listed, it was the fourth. Not sure whether that was cause for concern or not, I wrote to Clif Bar to ask whether they had heard about the study and whether they were making plans to eliminate brown rice syrup from their bars.I’ll keep you posted.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I’m just a mom, not a scientist. That doesn’t make me any less awed by and grateful to those big-brain scientists who uncovered this latest ugly hiding under the rock. Sure, life might be more blissful if I were able to remain ignorant of the hazards out there. But at least now I have the information—and the power—to use it to protect the health of my family.
Elliott said on February 16, 2012
I think the question is, how much Arsenic is inside a z-bar or clif-bar. The amount of syrup is interesting, but the arsenic probably varies a lot depending on the soil and other factors. They need to throw some bars in the blender and test for arsenic.
Mary Brune said on February 16, 2012
That’s a good point, Elliot. I think that the researchers suggested parents be highly concerned if brown rice syrup were the first ingredient listed, but I’m concerned it’s in there at all. True, though, that it might be at such low levels that it’s not even an issue. Point is, I suppose, that we don’t have any regulations around arsenic in food at the moment, which is definitely worrisome.
maria said on February 16, 2012
Thank you for posting this article my kids adore those as well! I hope this is not a hoax by the industry to scare people to not buy organic foods.
rob said on February 17, 2012
the regular clif bar first ingredient is brown rice syrup. I have been eating them daily for a few years. I will be looking for an alternative. I wrote the company and I will post IF I hear from them.
Angel said on February 17, 2012
On the news page that I read, they said that their main concerns were for those listing the organic brown rice syrup, and a few other rice ingredients as the first 5 ingredients. They list ingredients in order of what was used the most to the least. I have a couple of boxes of the Z-Bars in my cupboard, and one of them had it in the first 5 ingredients, and the others it was like the 9th or 10th. It also said that having a cereal bar containing small levels of arsenic every couple of days isn’t too harmful. But I am very interested in what the Clif Bar company has to say about this.
Hillary said on February 17, 2012
I had written to the Clif Bar company before finding this site. I’ll post if I hear back. Somehow I doubt they will respond unless questioned by a journalist …
Cindy said on February 17, 2012
YIKES! I finally got my super picky son to like the Chocolate Brownie Z-Bars. The kids are swimmers and I thought it was a great snack for the car ride home after practice. So I figure he eats 3 a week. He’s never eaten any other type of cereal bar so this was a big deal that he liked them. The Organic Brown Rice Syrup is the 2nd ingredient in those. I guess I will stop buying those. My daughter prefers the Chocolate Brownie Z Bars but will also eat the Chocolate Chip Z-Bars, that had the brown rice listed further down in the ingredients list. Keep us posted, Thanks!
Brad said on February 18, 2012
So far Clif Bar & Co. seems to be avoiding the issue by responding with a generic reply that says trace amounts of arsenic in many foods is natural and not cause for concern. They don’t disclose how much arsenic is in their products. There are many customers posting all over the internet that they are upset with this vague reply from the company. We want to know how much is in their products, and what they plan on doing about reducing and/or eliminating arsenic in future formulations.
Hillary said on February 18, 2012
I got the same reply from Clif Bar & Co:
“Thanks for taking the time to contact us with your question. At Clif Bar & Company, food safety is our number one priority and your health is paramount. All Clif Bar & Company foods fully comply with U.S. laws and regulations and our own strict quality standards.
We are aware of the 2/16/12 brown rice syrup study. It is important to understand that arsenic exists naturally in the soil, water and air, and trace levels can be found in all rice, and a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and seafood. Low levels of this naturally-occurring substance do not pose a safety concern.
We have a dedicated food safety and quality assurance staff that makes sure our ingredients and our foods are healthy and nutritious. ”
Doesn’t tell how much how much arsenic is in their products!
Elliott said on February 20, 2012
I got the same response. Let me share with y’all the rest:
Bobby,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
I am not aware of *any* standards for arsenic in food, are you? I believe the only standard is for water. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the foods produced by Clif Bar & Company are fully in compliance with the law.
My question is this, how much arsenic is in a clif bar? Is Clif Bar & Company willing to “take the risk” of testing and reporting the level of arsenic to consumers? I would hope that a company so committed to food safety and health would be willing.
I realize that many foods contain some amount of arsenic, for example, apple seeds. This does not, however, change my view on the danger of arsenic. Natural or not, the amount of arsenic in food should be analyzed and reported. Even if there isn’t a law or standard for food arsenic yet.
Simply stated, you have dodged the question. How much arsenic is in a Clif Bar? Has your company even tested the finished product for arsenic levels?
Thanks for your time,
–E
And then:
Hi again,
Food safety is a top priority for Clif Bar & Company. We have an extensive food safety program that entails a number of steps and protocols to ensure the safety of our food. Our suppliers’ ingredients are tested to ensure their safety and integrity. In addition, our bakery locations are audited to verify that all food safety protocols are operating correctly. However, the specifics of our testing protocols are proprietary.
-Bobby
Followed by:
Hi Bobby,
Since there is arsenic, naturally occurring, in brown rice and brown rice syrup, and since you will not state if your company tests Clif Bars for arsenic (much less state how much they find), I am forced to assume there is arsenic in Clif Bars and that it is at a dangerous level. This I assume, not because “Food safety is a top priority for Clif Bar & Company”. but rather, because I have no idea if your company is testing for this chemical or aware of its concentration within your products.
Your copy-and-paste response is not impressive, nor is it assuring. Of course your company tests your products and ingredients. I’m asking if you know the level of arsenic, and since you can’t tell me if you do, I have to assume on the ‘safe side’ and avoid your products at all cost.
Food safety is a top priority for my family and business, and when our suppliers refuse to test (or refuse to admit to testing) for arsenic, I am forced to not use that supplier.
Thanks, and I do hope some day you can test for arsenic AND release the results in good faith.
– End email –
If you ask me, it is extremely likely that if they have tested for arsenic, they found it in excess of acceptable levels (based on standards developed for water quality). They don’t want to release that, so they say, truthfully, that the food is tested against safety standards.
Too bad such a company, devoted to “health” won’t address this directly.
No more clif bars for us. Enjoy the publicity Clif and Co.
Nellie said on February 26, 2012
Interestingly, Clif has taken down their Facebook page re: luna bars post-arsenic questions. I’m simply going to ship them back the stockpile of about 25 luna and clif bars to their headquarters and tell them that the arsenic threat is too great–and there corporation’s hiding from the public on this (re: no mention on their website and removing FB page) is too incriminating to make the health risk to me, a cancer survivor, worthwhile. Wow. Bummer. Loved these, but the company is not doing any good damage control and that makes me really worried… Yuck.
John said on March 26, 2012
I’m really disappointed about this whole issue, and Clif Bar’s lack of response to it. I don’t eat a lot of them, bit they are handy when I’m off in the middle of nowhere cutting firewood, or out for a hike. It was an easy thing to stuff in my pocket. Guess I’ll have to find something else until this is resolved.
I’m far from an expert on the subject, but I’d guess that comparing the arsenic content of a Clif Bar to the standard for drinking water is pretty meaningless. The federal water standards were probably derived from some estimate of how much water a typical person drinks in a day. I was not eating several quarts worth of Clif Bars in a month (or even a year), let alone a day, as I do with water.
Katie said on April 6, 2012
All I can say is wow. I have been eating these as a healthy meal in-between meals for the past few weeks and I love the Blueberry Crisp! Unfortuantely, organic brown rice syrup is the first ingredient and brown rice syrup is the fifth. To be honest I am eating one as I write this and it’s becoming harder to swallow after reading the responses from Clif. I am very disappointed and I think I am going to send them the 2 unopened boxes of 6 bars we have left. I am very happy there are other people out there being their own advocates and demanding things come to awareness. We have the power, not these companies, not the government, we do!
/end of rant!
Dina said on May 17, 2012
Oh Wow! I just found this while getting on to try to order Kids Clif in BULK! My kids and I eat the Brownie Kids Clif all the time! I am terribly sad to read this and their response is amazing! I guess we will be looking for a safer alternative to the Clif bar…anybody found a healthy, good alternative? I am disturbed my picky 2 year old I thought I was giving her something not too terrible…boy was I wrong! Thanks for posting this!!!!
Mary Brune said on June 7, 2012
I know, Dina, it’s crazy. I still haven’t found a really good substitute that my kids will eat. I’m a so-so baker, but I’m toying with the idea of making it a project with my kids to bake something. I believe the original article said that bars made with rice flour aren’t a problem (or less of one) than ones make with the brown rice syrup. I haven’t actually done a search to look for “cereal bars” “rice flour” ingredients, but maybe that’s worth a try.
Michele said on August 2, 2012
I’m disappointed too. I had bought several boxes of cliff bars over the last couple of years for my son for track practice. And I buy them now and then, thinking they were the best energy bar. I won’t be buying them anymore. I never heard about this until now.
Asian lady pretending to be white and muslim said on August 27, 2012
All this is hype blown out of proportion by hyper-sensitive parents who overprotect their children. Calm down. Cliff is right that arsenic naturally occurs in all foods. If you any of you “consumers” had a scientific background you would realize this fact. Unfortunately, you are too busy with dogs and yoga.