HOW SAFE IS YOUR RICE? IMPORTED RICE STOCK FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD

 

The food chain is a complex thing.  For those who are already aware of the pitfalls of domestically produced food, and avoid non organic food and gmos, comes a new worry.

Scientists have tested imported rice and have found that certain types of imported rice are very high in lead content.    

Based on the tests, they found that people who consume the rice are being exposed to much higher levels than if they were not eating the foreign product.

Almost 7% of all rice consumed in America is from a foreign source.  

Researchers also found that some of the highest levels of lead were found in baby food.  

Lead has very serious effects on the nervous system and brain of a child.  In adults it can cause cardiovascular disease, calcium deficiency and disruption of haemogloblin production and consequently, anemia.

The culprit, scientists say, is the fact that all sectors of industry, agriculture, chemical, mining and other operators are dumping too much chemical waste into our waterways.  From there, the contaminants reach our food chain, when the water contaminates the soil.

The United States is one of the largest producers and exporters of rice, but due to conventions with other countries and better pricing, the US ends up importing about 7% of its rice.  

The problem with globalization then is that even in those countries where there are stricter regulations in the disposal of waste chemicals, the populations are at risk of eating contaminated food because the food supply is internationalized.

However, the researchers did point their fingers at some countries whose product was significantly higher in lead contamination:  Taiwan and China.  Next were Czech republic, Bhutan, Italy, India and Thailand, who were also found to be fairly high.  Some countries such as India and Thailand had not yet been analyzed.

The results of the research was that adults who were eating imported rice were 20-40 times higher in contaminant level than the  levels recommended by the FDA.

In children however, due to their reduced body weight, the levels rose to 30-60 times higher, which is particularly serious due to the more severe consequences from the assumption of the lead.

They also cautioned that Asian children, who only have access to rice that is contaminated, might have levels contamination that could reach 60-120 times the recommended safety levels recommended by the FDA.

Source: MNT 4.13.13