Arsenic in Food: Rice, Juice, Chicken, and What the FDA Has Done, Plus How to Reduce Exposure

Headlines warning that some foods come with “a free side of arsenic” drew attention to a real issue. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil and water, and it makes its way into foods, especially rice, rice products, some fruit juices, and certain seafood. For years, arsenic-based drugs were also fed to poultry and pigs in the United States, leaving residues in meat. Inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form, is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to other health effects with long-term exposure.

Since those headlines first appeared, regulators have taken several steps, including removing arsenic-based animal drugs from the market and setting action levels for arsenic in infant rice cereal and apple juice. This article explains where arsenic in food comes from, what research has found, what the FDA has done, and practical ways to reduce exposure.

Which foods have the most arsenic, and is it dangerous? Rice and rice products typically contain the most arsenic, since rice absorbs it from soil and water more than other crops; apple and grape juice, some seafood, and chicken (historically) can also contain it. Trace arsenic in food is usually below dangerous levels, but long-term exposure is linked to cancer and other harm, so reducing rice-heavy diets for infants is wise.

Why Is There Arsenic in Food?

Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, rock, and water and is also released by past pesticide use, mining, and industry, so it enters crops and food, with some foods absorbing more than others. Arsenic exists in two main forms. Inorganic arsenic, found in groundwater and soil and released by some industrial and agricultural activities, is the more toxic form and is classified as a human carcinogen, associated with cancers of the skin, bladder, and lung, as well as cardiovascular disease and other effects after long-term exposure. Organic arsenic compounds, such as arsenobetaine found abundantly in fish and shellfish, are generally considered much less toxic.

Plants take up arsenic from soil and water. Rice is particularly efficient at absorbing inorganic arsenic because it is typically grown in flooded paddies, where arsenic becomes more available to roots. Some regions, including parts of the southern United States where cotton farming once used arsenic-based pesticides, have higher arsenic levels in rice. Brown rice contains more arsenic than white rice because arsenic concentrates in the outer bran layer, which is removed in milling. Rice-based products, such as rice cereal, rice crackers, rice milk, and brown rice syrup, can also contain arsenic.

The FDA monitors arsenic in foods, including through its Total Diet Study, and limits arsenic in bottled water to 10 parts per billion, the same level the EPA allows in public drinking water.

Arsenic in Chicken and the End of Arsenical Drugs

For decades, U.S. poultry and swine producers used arsenic-based drugs, such as roxarsone, to promote growth, improve feed efficiency, and control a parasitic disease. These drugs contained organic arsenic, but concerns grew that they could convert to inorganic arsenic in animals or in manure spread on fields. A 2013 market-basket study in Environmental Health Perspectives by Keeve Nachman and colleagues at Johns Hopkins tested chicken from grocery stores in 10 U.S. cities. Conventional chicken had higher inorganic arsenic (geometric mean 1.8 micrograms per kilogram in cooked meat) than antibiotic-free (0.7) or organic (0.6) chicken, and roxarsone was detected in 20 of 40 conventional samples. The authors concluded that ending arsenical drug use could reduce arsenic exposure for chicken consumers.

The FDA had already found in 2011 that chickens fed roxarsone had higher levels of inorganic arsenic in their livers, and the manufacturer suspended sales. The agency withdrew approvals for roxarsone and two other arsenic-based drugs in 2013 and for the last one, nitarsone, in 2015, ending the use of arsenical drugs in U.S. food animals. Arsenic levels in chicken today should therefore reflect mainly environmental sources rather than drug use.

How Much Arsenic Is in Rice?

Rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water more efficiently than most crops, so it tends to have higher levels, with brown rice and rice-based infant products of particular concern; the FDA has proposed limits. Rice is the largest dietary source of inorganic arsenic for many people, particularly infants and people who eat rice frequently. Because infants eat a lot relative to their body weight and rice cereal was a common first food, regulators focused on infant products. In 2020, the FDA finalized guidance setting an action level of 100 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal, and in 2023 it finalized an action level of 10 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. Action levels are not legally binding limits, but the FDA can take enforcement action against products that exceed them. Pediatric experts now recommend offering infants a variety of grain cereals, such as oat, barley, and multigrain, rather than relying only on rice cereal.

The FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative aims to reduce exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in foods eaten by babies and young children over time, through research, action levels, and work with industry.

How Can I Reduce Arsenic in Rice?

Rinsing rice and cooking it in excess water (about six parts water to one of rice), then draining, can remove a meaningful portion of the arsenic, as can choosing lower-arsenic varieties. FDA scientists reported in 2016 in Food Additives & Contaminants, in a study by Patrick Gray and colleagues, that cooking rice in excess water, using a ratio of about six to ten parts water to one part rice and draining the excess, reduced average inorganic arsenic by 40 percent in long-grain polished rice, 60 percent in parboiled rice, and 50 percent in brown rice. However, the method also reduced iron, folate, niacin, and thiamin by 50 to 70 percent in enriched polished and parboiled rice, because these added nutrients are washed away; losses were smaller for brown rice, which is not enriched. Rinsing rice before cooking has smaller effects on arsenic but also removes some enriched nutrients. Rice also features in a long-running online rumor about fake grains, which testing has not supported, as our article on plastic rice claims explains.

What Are the Health Effects of Arsenic?

Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is linked to cancers of the skin, bladder, and lung, as well as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and developmental effects, especially in children. Much of what is known about arsenic’s health effects comes from populations exposed to contaminated drinking water. A 2000 report in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization by Allan Smith and colleagues described arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh as the largest poisoning of a population in history, after millions of tube wells installed to provide safe water from microbial contamination turned out to draw arsenic-laden groundwater. Long-term exposure in such settings has been linked to skin lesions, cancers of the skin, bladder, lung, and kidney, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and effects on children’s development. In the United States, the EPA lowered the drinking water standard for arsenic from 50 to 10 parts per billion in 2001.

Dietary exposures in the United States are much lower than in heavily contaminated regions, but because arsenic is a carcinogen without a clearly safe threshold, regulators aim to reduce exposure, especially for infants and young children, who eat more food relative to body weight.

Other Foods That Contain Arsenic

Food	Main form	Notes
Rice and rice products	Inorganic	Largest dietary source for many people; brown rice higher than white
Apple and grape juice	Inorganic and organic	FDA action level of 10 ppb for apple juice
Fish and shellfish	Mostly organic (arsenobetaine)	High total arsenic, but mostly the less toxic form
Seaweed, especially hijiki	Can be high in inorganic	Several food agencies advise avoiding hijiki
Well water	Inorganic	Private wells are not regulated; testing recommended
Chicken (historically)	Inorganic and drug residues	Arsenical drugs withdrawn by 2015

How Can I Lower My Arsenic Exposure From Food?

Vary your grains beyond rice, cook rice in extra water, limit rice-based products for infants, and be aware of juice and other sources, since a varied diet reduces exposure to any single contaminant. Vary your grains. Rotate rice with oats, barley, quinoa, wheat, corn, and other grains.

Cook rice in excess water. Use plenty of water and drain it, accepting some loss of added vitamins in enriched rice.

Choose lower-arsenic rice types. Basmati rice from some regions and white rice generally contain less arsenic than brown rice; rice grown in some areas tends to be lower.

Offer infants varied cereals. Use oat, barley, or multigrain cereals and avoid rice milk as a main drink for young children.

Limit juice. Pediatric guidance limits juice for young children for nutritional reasons, which also reduces arsenic exposure.

Test private wells. Households on private wells should have water tested for arsenic and other contaminants.

Watch brown rice syrup. This sweetener, used in some organic products, can contain arsenic.

Organic Does Not Mean Arsenic-Free

Organic certification prohibits arsenic-based drugs and synthetic pesticides, which helps explain lower arsenic in organic chicken in the 2013 study. But rice absorbs naturally occurring arsenic from soil and water regardless of whether it is organic, so organic rice can contain arsenic similar to conventional rice from the same region. Our article on what the USDA Organic seal guarantees explains the standard in detail.

The Apple Juice Debate

Arsenic in apple juice became a national story in 2011, when a television program reported total arsenic levels in some juices above the drinking water standard. The FDA initially responded that most of the arsenic measured was likely organic and less toxic, then conducted its own testing focused on inorganic arsenic. The agency proposed an action level of 10 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in apple juice in 2013, matching the drinking water standard, and finalized it in 2023. Most juices tested by the FDA met this level. Because children drink more juice relative to their size than adults, pediatric guidance also recommends limiting juice and offering whole fruit instead.

Seafood and Seaweed

Fish and shellfish often contain more total arsenic than other foods, but mostly as arsenobetaine, an organic form that passes through the body largely unchanged and is considered of little toxicological concern. This is why total arsenic measurements can be misleading. Some seaweeds, however, can contain substantial inorganic arsenic. Hijiki, a seaweed used in some Asian dishes, has been found to contain high levels, and food safety agencies in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries have advised consumers to avoid eating it. Other edible seaweeds such as nori generally contain much less inorganic arsenic, though levels vary.

Rice-Based Products to Watch

Beyond plain rice, several products can concentrate arsenic: rice cereals and puffs for infants and toddlers, rice cakes and crackers, rice milk, rice-based pasta and bread for gluten-free diets, and brown rice syrup, a sweetener used in some organic snacks, cereal bars, and formulas. People who follow gluten-free diets may eat more rice-based products and can reduce exposure by varying grains, using quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, and certified gluten-free oats. Health authorities in some countries advise against giving rice milk as a main drink to young children because of arsenic content.

Baby Food and Heavy Metals

Concern about arsenic in children’s foods intensified in 2021, when a U.S. House subcommittee report based on internal company documents found that several major baby food manufacturers sold products containing significant levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, and that some companies had internal standards higher than what experts considered protective. Rice-based products were among those with high inorganic arsenic. The report prompted the FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative and legislative proposals to set limits. Parents can reduce exposure by offering a variety of foods, choosing non-rice cereals and snacks, and limiting juice, approaches recommended by pediatric experts.

Testing Private Wells

About one in ten Americans gets drinking water from private wells, which are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater in parts of New England, the Midwest, the Southwest, and other regions, sometimes above 10 parts per billion. Well owners can contact state or local health departments for testing guidance and certified laboratories. If arsenic is found, treatment options include reverse osmosis systems, certain adsorptive filters, and alternative water sources; standard pitcher filters may not remove arsenic effectively. Because water used for cooking rice can add to arsenic content, using low-arsenic water for cooking matters in areas with contaminated wells.

Key Terms

Inorganic arsenic: The more toxic form of arsenic, classified as a human carcinogen.

Organic arsenic: Arsenic compounds such as arsenobetaine in seafood, generally much less toxic.

Action level: An FDA guidance level above which the agency may take enforcement action.

Roxarsone: An arsenic-based drug formerly fed to poultry, withdrawn in 2013.

Parts per billion (ppb): A unit of concentration; 10 ppb equals 10 micrograms per liter.

Does Where Rice Is Grown Matter?

Arsenic levels in rice vary with growing region, soil, water, and variety. Testing by researchers and consumer organizations has generally found lower inorganic arsenic in basmati rice from parts of India and Pakistan and in rice grown in California than in rice from some southern U.S. states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, where soils may contain residues from past arsenic-based pesticide use on cotton. Jasmine rice and sushi rice have also often tested lower than average. These patterns are general and vary between samples, but they offer shoppers who eat rice frequently a way to reduce exposure by choosing rice from lower-arsenic regions.

Removing Arsenic From Drinking Water

For households with arsenic in well water, treatment choices depend on the form and concentration of arsenic. Reverse osmosis systems certified for arsenic reduction can remove most arsenic at the tap used for drinking and cooking. Adsorptive media filters using iron or aluminum compounds can also be effective. Arsenic exists in two inorganic forms in water, arsenite and arsenate, and arsenite is harder to remove, so some systems include an oxidation step. Boiling water does not remove arsenic and can concentrate it. Certified products and periodic retesting help ensure systems work as intended, as noted in our article on home water filtration.

Arsenic and Rice Around the World

Rice is a staple for more than half the world’s population, and arsenic in rice is a global concern, especially in parts of South and Southeast Asia where both rice and groundwater can contain elevated arsenic. Researchers are breeding rice varieties that take up less arsenic and testing farming practices such as alternate wetting and drying of paddies, which can reduce arsenic in grain while also saving water and lowering methane emissions. International food standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission include maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in polished and husked rice, which many countries use as references.

Common Myths

“Organic rice has no arsenic.” Organic rice absorbs naturally occurring arsenic like conventional rice.

“Fish are the biggest arsenic danger.” Fish contain mostly the less toxic organic form; rice is the main source of inorganic arsenic for many people.

“Washing rice removes most arsenic.” Rinsing has modest effects; cooking in excess water removes more.

“Arsenic drugs are still used in chicken.” They were withdrawn from the U.S. market by 2015.

“Any arsenic in food means it is unsafe.” Arsenic is widespread at low levels; the goal is reducing exposure, especially for children.

Key Facts at a Glance

The FDA has set action levels of 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic for infant rice cereal (2020) and 10 parts per billion for apple juice (2023), and limits bottled water to 10 parts per billion. FDA scientists found that cooking rice in excess water reduced inorganic arsenic by 40 to 60 percent, while lowering added vitamins in enriched rice by 50 to 70 percent. A 2013 study found higher inorganic arsenic in conventional chicken than in organic chicken, with roxarsone detected in half of conventional samples; FDA withdrew arsenical animal drugs by 2015.

The Bottom Line

Arsenic in food is a real issue, mainly from rice and rice products, some juices, certain seaweeds, and contaminated well water. Regulators have ended arsenic-based animal drugs and set action levels for infant rice cereal and apple juice. For most people, practical steps, varying grains, cooking rice in excess water, choosing non-rice cereals for infants, limiting juice, and testing private wells, meaningfully reduce exposure without eliminating rice from the diet.

How Arsenic Is Measured in Food

Laboratories measure arsenic using sensitive instruments such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which can detect very small amounts. To assess health risk, it matters which form is present, so methods that separate inorganic and organic arsenic, called speciation analysis, are important. Early reports on arsenic in juice and rice sometimes measured only total arsenic, which can overstate risk for foods like seafood that contain mostly organic forms, or understate concern for rice when inorganic arsenic makes up most of the total. The FDA and other agencies now focus on inorganic arsenic for setting action levels.

Questions Parents Often Ask

Should I avoid rice cereal entirely? Experts recommend variety rather than complete avoidance; oat, barley, and multigrain cereals are good alternatives. Is homemade rice better than packaged rice products? Cooking rice in excess water at home can lower arsenic, but rice itself still contributes some. Are rice-based teething biscuits a concern? They can contain arsenic, so offering a range of foods is advised. What about formula? Formulas sweetened with brown rice syrup have raised concern in the past; checking ingredients and choosing formulas without rice syrup is a reasonable step.

Arsenic in Supplements and Other Products

Arsenic and other heavy metals can also occur in dietary supplements, including some protein powders, herbal products, and traditional remedies, because plant ingredients absorb metals from soil. Rice protein powders may contain arsenic for the same reasons as rice. Some imported traditional medicines have been found to contain arsenic intentionally. Choosing supplements with third-party testing for contaminants helps reduce risk, as discussed in our article on heavy metals in protein powders.

Further Reading

The FDA’s arsenic in food pages describe monitoring results, action levels, and research, including its Closer to Zero initiative for children’s foods. The EPA provides information on arsenic in drinking water, and state health departments offer guidance on testing private wells. Peer-reviewed studies cited here describe arsenic in chicken, rice cooking methods, and the health effects of arsenic exposure.

What the Arsenic Story Teaches About Food Safety

The arsenic story shows how scientific research, media attention, and regulation interact. Studies identified arsenic drug residues in chicken and inorganic arsenic in rice and juice; news coverage raised public concern; and regulators responded with drug withdrawals, action levels, and guidance. Some early coverage overstated risks by focusing on total arsenic, while other concerns proved well founded. The result has been measurable progress, though work continues. For consumers, the lesson is to look for information about which form of a contaminant is present, how much people actually consume, and what practical steps reduce exposure, rather than reacting to alarming headlines alone.

Further Context: Why Children Are Prioritized

Regulatory efforts focus on infants and young children because they eat more food per kilogram of body weight than adults, often eat a limited range of foods such as rice cereal or juice, and are in critical periods of brain and organ development. Some research has associated early-life arsenic exposure with effects on development and later health. For these reasons, the FDA’s approach emphasizes reducing arsenic in foods commonly given to babies and toddlers, and pediatric guidance stresses dietary variety.

Comparing Grains for Arsenic

Grains other than rice generally contain much less inorganic arsenic because they are not grown in flooded fields. Oats, barley, wheat, corn, quinoa, millet, and buckwheat are good alternatives that also offer different nutrients and flavors. For people who eat rice daily, such as in many Asian, Latin American, and African cuisines, completely replacing rice is unrealistic and unnecessary; instead, combining lower-arsenic rice types, excess-water cooking, and some variety can substantially lower exposure while preserving cultural food traditions.

Brown rice offers more fiber and nutrients than white rice, so people who prefer it need not give it up; using the excess-water method and varying grains through the week balances these benefits against arsenic exposure.

A Simple Weekly Plan

For a family that eats rice several times a week, a practical approach might include cooking rice in excess water and draining it; choosing basmati, jasmine, or California-grown rice when possible; serving other grains such as oats, quinoa, barley, or whole-wheat pasta on some days; offering infants oat or multigrain cereals; limiting juice and choosing whole fruit; and, for homes on wells, testing water every few years. These steps require little extra effort and can meaningfully reduce arsenic intake without giving up favorite dishes.

Families that follow gluten-free diets can apply the same principles, choosing a range of gluten-free grains rather than relying mainly on rice-based breads, pasta, and snacks.

Arsenic and Cooking Water

The water used for cooking matters too. In homes where tap or well water contains arsenic, rice cooked in that water can absorb additional arsenic, which is why the excess-water method works best with low-arsenic water. Studies in South Asia found that cooking rice in contaminated water increased arsenic in cooked rice, while cooking with low-arsenic water reduced it. Households on wells with elevated arsenic should use treated or alternative water for both drinking and cooking.

Quick Reference: Lower-Arsenic Swaps

Swap rice cereal for oat or multigrain cereal for infants; replace some rice dishes with quinoa, barley, farro, or couscous; choose rice crackers less often and try whole-grain wheat or seed crackers; use cow’s milk, soy milk, or oat milk instead of rice milk for children; and choose sweeteners other than brown rice syrup in homemade snacks. Each swap is small, but together they can make a meaningful difference for people who eat rice-based foods often. For adults who love rice, keeping it on the menu while cooking it in excess water and rotating in other grains a few times a week is a reasonable middle ground that preserves both nutrition and enjoyment.

People with specific concerns, such as pregnant women who eat rice daily or families whose infants rely heavily on rice products, can ask a pediatrician or registered dietitian for personalized guidance on balancing nutrition and arsenic exposure across the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which foods contain the most arsenic?

Rice and rice-based products typically contain the most arsenic among common foods, because rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water more readily than other crops. Apple and grape juice can also contain arsenic, as can some seafood (mostly the less harmful organic form) and, historically, chicken from arsenic-based drugs. Levels vary, but rice is the main dietary source for many people.

Is the arsenic in rice dangerous?

For most people eating a varied diet, occasional rice is not dangerous, since levels are usually below acute harm thresholds. The concern is long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, which is linked to cancer and other diseases, and the higher relative intake for infants and young children who eat rice cereal. Reducing heavy, daily reliance on rice lowers this cumulative risk.

How can I reduce arsenic when cooking rice?

Rinse rice thoroughly before cooking, then cook it in excess water, about six parts water to one part rice, and drain off the extra water, which can remove a significant portion of the arsenic. Choosing lower-arsenic varieties, such as some white rice over brown, and basmati from certain regions, also helps, as does varying your grains with options like quinoa or barley.

Should babies eat rice cereal given the arsenic concern?

Rice cereal was long a first food, but because infants are small and vulnerable and rice can be high in arsenic, experts now suggest offering a variety of fortified grains rather than relying heavily on rice cereal. The FDA has set limits for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal. Parents can rotate oat, barley, and multigrain cereals to reduce arsenic exposure.

What are the long-term health effects of dietary arsenic?

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic, mainly through water and food over many years, is associated with cancers of the skin, bladder, and lung, as well as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, skin changes, and developmental and cognitive effects in children. Everyday dietary levels are far lower than those causing acute poisoning, but minimizing long-term intake, especially for children, is the sensible goal.

References

1. Nachman KE, Baron PA, Raber G, et al. Roxarsone, inorganic arsenic, and other arsenic species in chicken: a U.S.-based market basket sample. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2013;121(7):818–824. PMID 23694900
2. Gray PJ, Conklin SD, Todorov TI, Kasko SM. Cooking rice in excess water reduces both arsenic and enriched vitamins in the cooked grain. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A. 2016;33(1):78–85. PMID 26515534
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arsenic in Food and Dietary Supplements. fda.gov
4. Smith AH, Lingas EO, Rahman M. Contamination of drinking-water by arsenic in Bangladesh: a public health emergency. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2000;78(9):1093–1103. PMID 11019458

Last updated: October 6, 2026