Share:
Arsenic poisons It is better not to eat rice waffles for babies and toddlers
Over the years, arsenic has been repeatedly warned of a health risk in food. Especially in rice products, the dangerous substance is often found. Sometimes even so much that the legal limit values are exceeded, as the consumer magazine "Öko-Test" reports.
Arsenic in food
Health experts have been warning of arsenic in our food for years. Even in German beer, the dangerous substance has already been detected. But especially rice and rice products contain a lot of arsenic. This is also shown by a new study by the consumer magazine "Öko-Test". In their current issue of October, the experts advise: "Babies and toddlers should better not give rice waffles."
The consumer magazine "Öko-Test" has again found harmful arsenic in rice waffles. According to the experts, babies and toddlers should not be given such foods. (Image: Daorson / fotolia.com) Also found four years ago
According to a press release, the consumer magazine has sent 19 brands to the lab, and found in part highly elevated levels of carcinogenic inorganic arsenic. According to the information, some brands also contain other pollutants such as acrylamide and mineral oil. Only one product convinced me with the test result "very good".
Already four years ago, the magazine had found inorganic arsenic in rice waffles. Since then, the products were clearly not improved. "More than half of the rice waffles rattle in the test with a fat" insufficient "," writes "eco-test".
Existing EU limit values exceeded
"There are so many of arsenic in three products that the EU limit for rice cakes, which has been in place since January, has been exceeded," he adds. Last year, the European Union set maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in rice, rice biscuits, rice cakes, rice crackers, rice cakes and rice for the production of food for infants and toddlers. These values have been valid since 1 January 2016.
Risk factor for cancer
According to the consumer magazine, inorganic arsenic originates among other things from drinking water wells in the rice growing areas. The substance dissolves in the soil from the rock layers and is pumped up with the water. In this way, he then returns to the rice fields, as they are flooded with water.
In large quantities, inorganic arsenic is a risk factor for cancer. Light arsenic poisoning can also cause discomfort in adults, including cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and kidney failure. It is even more dangerous for children.
Other chemicals in rice products
However, arsenic is apparently not the only problem of rice cakes. According to "Öko-Test", the lab found in almost all products also the probably carcinogenic acrylamide. "Most wafers exceeded the guideline value for processed cereal - another reason why babies and toddlers should not eat rice waffles," say the experts. In addition, some products also contain mineral oil, which is likely to enter the food via packaging or lubricating oils during production.
"The fact that it is quite possible to produce rice waffles without increased amounts of pollutants, fortunately shows at least one vendor, who already in the test four years ago and thus permanently had the best products," reports the magazine. The product received the test result "very good". (Ad)