North state rice producers are reacting to the new study out of Dartmouth College claiming high levels of arsenic are found in one of their products.After reports surfaced yesterday that hidden arsenic may be found in organic brown rice syrup, local producer Lundberg Family Farms was fielding questions from hundreds of concerned consumers.
But there's still a lot of research that needs to be done on arsenic in foods and whether or not it's harmful.
Rice is life out here on the Lundberg Family Farms.
So when the company learned about Dartmouth's arsenic study they had to take a step back.
CEO Grant Lundberg says, “The most important thing here at Lundberg Family Farms is the safety and health of our consumers, so we take it very seriously.”
The report studied arsenic levels in several unknown brands of organic brown rice syrup, which is often used in organic energy bars and even baby formula.
Researchers said high levels of arsenic were discovered in the syrup.
Lundberg adds, “Arsenic is in everything pretty much. It’s in seafood, vegetables, fruit, grains, rice, but it's also in the water and air. This is in one data point and we've gotta get some more because there's a lot of places where we come into contact with arsenic.”
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil.
However, the FDA currently doesn't regulate arsenic in our food or drinks, but Lundberg Farms and other consumer advocates would like to see that change.
“We think that's very important and we expect more reports to come out like this,” says Lundberg.
The FDA began studying arsenic levels in rice last October, so the verdict is still out on whether or not small amounts in our food are harmful.
But the Lundberg's eating habits won't be changing anytime soon.
“We're still eating Lundberg rice and we will into the future,” says Lundberg, “I think a good question has been raised not only about rice, but the whole food supply.”
