INORGANIC ARSENIC IN RICE

At Lotus Foods, we are committed to transparency and to providing high-quality rice products that consumers can feel confident serving to their families.

 

Heavy metals, including inorganic arsenic, are naturally occurring elements found in the environment and can be present at trace levels in many foods, including rice. Regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognize that inorganic arsenic occurs naturally in rice due to environmental factors such as soil and water conditions.

 

To help ensure the quality and safety of our products, Lotus Foods works with accredited third-party laboratories to periodically test our rice for heavy metals and to verify compliance with applicable food safety and regulatory standards. We continuously monitor developments in scientific research and regulatory guidance related to heavy metals in food.

 

Many of our rice varieties are grown using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), also known as our More Crop Per Drop® methodology. SRI utilizes practices such as intermittent field drainage and optimized water management to support soil health, conserve water, and improve farm resilience. Research suggests that these growing conditions may help reduce the uptake of certain naturally occurring contaminants compared to continuously flooded rice systems.

 

In addition, we maintain strong, direct relationships with our growers and processors and prioritize sourcing from farms that meet rigorous environmental and quality standards, including USDA Organic certification and, for select products, Regenerative Organic Certified® certification.

 

We remain committed to ongoing monitoring, responsible sourcing, and transparency as part of our mission to provide exceptional rice while supporting healthy farming communities and ecosystems.

 

Below are the inorganic arsenic results from the last 8 years, having tested 171 rice lots during that time. We release specific data results based on rice variety and crop year. We divided our varieties into groups based on color and texture:

• Brown - 100% whole grain, with the bran fully intact.
• White - The Bran and Germ are removed for a soft, fluffy texture.
• Pigmented (Forbidden® Black, Red, Tricolor)- Whole grains that get their color from a natural source of antioxidants called anthocyanins.