INORGANIC ARSENIC IN RICE

Please be assured that we are steadfast in our commitment to transparency with our customers and providing rice products that are not only delicious, but that you can feel good about eating. Certain levels of inorganic arsenic is recognized by regulatory authorities including the FDA as naturally occurring or inherent in rice.

None of the regions where Lotus Foods rice is grown has any known arsenic contamination. Codex (the body coordinated by the United Nations and the World Health Organization that develops international food standards), has proposed a maximum level of 0.20 parts per million (ppm) for Inorganic Arsenic in white (or polished) rice.

We have been testing our rice since 2010, working with accredited commercial labs and the average level for our rice has consistently tested at less than half this level.

Moreover, our More Crop Per Drop® rices are produced on fields that are periodically drained. Research shows that rice grown on aerobic soils reduces uptake of arsenic. You can, therefore, easily enjoy Lotus Foods rice without any concern about adverse effects from arsenic knowing that it consistently meets (by far) stringent regulatory standards.

As a company we believe in establishing and maintaining strong, direct relationships with all of our growers and processors to ensure the highest quality and integrity. We also hold ourselves to the highest standards as set forth by the USDA Organic Standards.

Below are the inorganic arsenic results from the last 5 years, having tested 115 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 - Whole grains, blends, and milled grains (partially intact bran) that get their color from a natural source of antioxidants called anthocyanins.