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Call for lower arsenic levels in baby food
A lower limit could be set following widespread compliance with the current regulation, introduced in January 2016, according to researchers at the Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Food Security.
Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen known to impact a child’s IQ, growth rate and immune development.
Research by the Institute, led by Professor Andy Meharg, showed it was found to be around 10-times higher in rice than in other staple foods.
“It is encouraging to see a decrease in the level of inorganic arsenic in infant products,” said Meharg, “but I would suggest the EU should revise and lower its current regulations. Our results show that attaining lower inorganic arsenic standards in infant foods is readily achievable.”
