Just How Dangerous Is Rice For Your Family?

TOP OF MIND

One cup of rice and a side of arsenic
A new report from Healthy Babies, Bright Futures is making headlines across the world.

They sampled more than 100 different brands of rice from grocery stores in the U.S. and found dangerously high levels of arsenic and cadmium. More than a fourth of the brands exceeded the limits set by the FDA for infant cereal.

The FDA hasn't set any limits on rice, but experts argue they should because it's  frequently consumed by children and infants.

The important bits
Arsenic is a natural element in soil, water, and air, with its inorganic form being the most toxic. "Inorganic" refers to its chemical structure, not farming methods.

Early exposure, even during pregnancy, can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and later neurodevelopmental issues. Even at low levels, arsenic and cadmium have been linked to diabetes, development delays and heart disease.

The USA Rice Federation (yes, it's a thing) has responded to this report, pointing out how rice grown in the United States contains the lowest levels of inorganic arsenic in the world.

They also claim that the "top source (42%) of arsenic in the diet of Americans is fruits, vegetables, and fruit juice," adding that rice is just at 17%.

But the folks who did the study say that 17% is misleading because dozens of fruits and vegetables contribute to the 42% figure. In contrast, rice alone contributes 17%, likely making it the top single source of arsenic in the American diet.

What's it all mean?
You may want to limit your exposure, especially if you have young children at home. One thing you can do is look at the labels. The study found that rice grown in California had significantly less arsenic than rice grown in other parts of the country. Additionally, you can use rice substitutes, like quinoa, barley and bulgur. More on those here.

DID YOU HEAR

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It turns out, newborns can do more than just eat, sleep and poop! Researchers are still learning about newborns, and some of their findings might come as a surprise to you. For example, at just 3-months-old, babies can begin sensing emotions. They also start talking with their hands before even attempting to speak, so some experts suggest teaching them sign language. Read about all their other talents here. 

😶 Georgia requires brain-dead woman be kept alive through pregnancy
The state of Georgia has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. Doctors are not allowed to perform an abortion once cardiac activity is detected, generally around six weeks into pregnancy. This has caused a lot of stress for the family of Adriana Smith, who was declared legally dead back in February. The hospital is required by law to keep her on life support because she's 21 weeks pregnant.

🛒 The most-liked grocery store in the country
According to a new report from Solitaired, Trader Joe's is the best-reviewed grocery store chain in the country. The super scientific study examined Google review data from the largest retailers in the country, and TJ's had an impressive 4.65 overall rating. In a close second was Publix. And in third? WinCo. See the full list here.

🎁 All gifts, no guests!
If you have a little kid at home, chances are you're receiving a handful of kids' birthday party invites every month, but we're willing to bet you haven't received one like this. A parent on Reddit posted a story about how their kid was invited to an "online party" but there were no details of said online party. Instead, the invite listed possible gift ideas and a code to send cash via Venmo.

🦕 Have you heard of the viral "Caveman Skin" trend?
You ever look at an artist’s rendering of a caveman and think, "I wish had his skincare routine!" Well, good news, you can have it, and it's completely free.

DOSE OF GOOD

@jillianmariejohnson89

I think your pup is defective, Mom. 🤨 #newborn #dachshund #dachshundsoftiktok #futurebesties #fetch #doxie #doxiesoftiktok #dogswithbabies #newmom

BITES WITH KIYAH

At a recent birthday party, a mom told her kids that eating sugar would make their legs fall off—and the Slate advice columnist had thoughts.

So do I.

Demonizing sugar doesn’t help kids build healthy habits; it creates fear and confusion. Like the columnist, I think there's a better way. In this blog post, I offer a more grounded approach: how to enjoy sweets and spot the hidden sugars that are the ones that really deserve our attention.

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you what your favorite cereal was, and "Frosted Flakes" and "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" came out tied. Good taste!

RECALLS

Not the ice cream!
Wells Enterprises is recalling nearly 18,000 tubs of its ice cream because some of the containers might have little plastic pieces inside them.

The recall, which started in late April and was made official by the FDA last week, affects 22 different kinds of 3-gallon tubs that were shipped to more than 100 distribution centers across the United States.

The list also features a number of products sold under popular brand names like Glenview Farms, Johnny Rockets, Scooper Hero, and Planet Smoothie. Read all about it here.

Judge us all you want, but it's gonna take more than a little piece of plastic to keep us away from a tub of ice cream!