SALISBURY, Md.- If rice will be part of your next meal, you may want to add a different option. That's because a Consumer Reports' investigation found worrisome levels of arsenic in the grain.
More specifically, the investigation tested samples of rice that is grown in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas.
Mike Brockler, who was eating lunch with his family at the Chipotle on Route 13 in Salisbury, said he enjoys eating rice with his burrito.
He said the study is not something he's panicking about.
"I am not too terribly worried about it. I think when a small report comes out it initially alarms consumers and then afterwards, in followup reports that come out, that may nullify those results," Brockler said.
The watchdog group's investigation tested for arsenic in about 60 products. The samples include rice cakes, brown and white rice, hot cereal and even infant rice cereal.
The study links arsenic, a known human carcinogen to bladder, lung and skin cancer.
"People should not push the panic button anytime soon about this new study that came out," said Dr. Mitchell Gittelman.
Gittelman said one study is not enough to conclude that people should steer clear of rice.
"But again the key word here is potentially and in what doses and over what duration and those questions haven't been answered," Gittelman said.
Wichian Fields, who was shopping at Giant supermarket in Salisbury, said she is sticking with rice because it is a food she has grown up eating.
"Asian people, we eat rice, we love rice," said Fields. "See this one? This is from my country imported from Thailand. See, that's where it comes from."
The Food and Drug Administration said it is in the process of collecting and analyzing a total of approximately 1,200 samples to examine the issue thoroughly. This data collection will be completed by the end of 2012.
Once the data collection is completed, FDA will analyze these results and determine whether or not to issue additional recommendations.
(Photo: WBOC)
