[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE INTRODUCTION OF THE R.I.C.E. ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Reducing 
food-based Inorganic and Organic Compounds Exposure Act, or the 
R.I.C.E. Act. This bill, which I am proud to introduce with my 
colleagues Congressman Pallone of New Jersey and Congresswoman Lowey of 
New York, seeks to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to 
set maximum allowable levels of arsenic in foods that contain rice.
  Last year, a Consumer Reports test found concerning levels of arsenic 
in some juices. Based on that report, I was glad to support Congressman 
Pallone's legislation that would require the FDA to set a maximum 
allowable level of arsenic and lead in fruit juices. I look forward to 
our continued work on this issue to protect the public health, which is 
why we have again partnered on this issue with this legislation. And I 
am glad to be working with Congresswoman Lowey, a champion of 
children's health.
  Recently, Consumer Reports completed another test on arsenic in our 
food supply, this time focusing on rice and rice products. That report 
found concerning levels of inorganic arsenic in some rice samples--
including infant rice cereals and beverages. For example, an adult 
consuming a single serving of some rice products had the possibility of 
getting nearly one and a half times the amount of inorganic arsenic 
that they would consume from an entire day's intake of water. The 
report also noted that individuals who consume rice have higher arsenic 
levels than those that did not consume rice.
  Another report published in Environmental Health Perspectives earlier 
this year identified high levels of inorganic arsenic in products 
containing organic brown rice syrup. The published study noted that the 
sampled products ``may introduce significant concentrations of 
[inorganic arsenic] to an individual's diet.'' And, The Proceedings of 
the National Academy of Sciences published an article in December 2011 
entitled ``Rice consumption contributes to arsenic exposure in US 
women'' that highlighted the association between rice consumption and a 
biomarker of arsenic exposure in women.
  Clearly, it is imperative that the FDA act and set standards for 
acceptable levels of arsenic and other dangerous heavy metals in food 
products. This bill requires them to set such a level for arsenic in 
rice and foods containing rice. I intend to continue to work on this 
issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                                              Consumers Union,

                                               September 20, 2012.
     Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congresswoman DeLauro: Consumers Union, the policy and 
     advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, applauds your introduction 
     of legislation to require the U.S. Food and Drug 
     Administration (FDA) to set standards to help lower the 
     levels of arsenic in rice and rice products.
       As you know, yesterday Consumer Reports and the FDA each 
     released important data showing troubling levels of arsenic 
     in rice, which is a major food staple for millions of 
     Americans. Inorganic arsenic--which both studies found in the 
     various rice products examined--has been linked to bladder, 
     lung and other cancers. The consumption of arsenic-containing 
     rice is especially worrisome for infants and young children 
     because of the negative impact arsenic may have on the 
     developing brain.
       Rice is not the only food that contains worrisome levels of 
     arsenic. Indeed, in a previous report released earlier this 
     year, Consumer Reports found troubling levels of arsenic in 
     apple and other juices. Yesterday's findings underscore the 
     health risks of arsenic, particularly inorganic arsenic, and 
     how rice is a particularly important source of arsenic 
     exposure for Americans. That's because rice is a crop that is 
     very effective in absorbing arsenic, in part because of the 
     way it is grown in water-flooded conditions and also because 
     it is often grown in areas where arsenical pesticides were 
     once used.
       Consumer Reports tested over 200 samples of rice and rice 
     products for arsenic, and we found significant levels of 
     arsenic across all product categories, everything from 
     organic rice to rice cereal, brown rice, white rice, and rice 
     cakes. FDA tests found similar levels in its examination of 
     more than 200 samples of rice products. FDA Commissioner 
     Hamburg announced her agency would continue to collect and 
     analyze 1,000 more samples by year's end to make a thorough 
     assessment and plan next steps.
       We welcome and appreciate the FDA's efforts to prioritize 
     its examination of arsenic in rice. We also believe that a 
     federal standard limiting arsenic in rice and rice products 
     is the best way to minimize consumers' exposure to unsafe 
     levels of arsenic.
       Thank you for your leadership on this critical safety 
     issue. We look forward to working with you and other members 
     of Congress to help reduce arsenic levels in food.
           Sincerely,
     Ellen Bloom,
       Senior Director, Federal Policy and Washington Office.
     Ami V. Gadhia,
       Senior Policy Counsel.

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