ConsumerReports tested 223 samples* of packaged, uncooked rice and rice-containing foods and everages purchased in April, May and August 2012, many from the New York metropolitan area and from online retailers. A minimum of three samples of each product were analyzed and for the majority of the 65 products which were looked at, ConsumerReports tested one sample from each of three lots.

For the rice, the country or state(s) of origin column indicates in which country or state the rice was grown; in two instances, that information was not available.

There’s no federal limit for arsenic in most food. ConsumerReports findings are a spot check of the market and are too limited to offer general conclusions about arsenic levels in specific brands or within/across rice product categories. In addition to test results for total arsenic, lead and cadmium, the table below displays test results for inorganic arsenic species, which are classified as human carcinogens, and organic arsenic species, which may also be a health concern. The two species of inorganic arsenic listed in the table are arsenite [As (III)] and arsenate [As(V)] and the two species of organic forms of arsenic are dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA).

View full report here: Consumer Reports, Rice 9-12