Rice exported by the US to Haiti has unhealthy levels of arsenic

(By Planeta Arroz, with agencies) U.S. rice exports to Haiti, which account for most of the country's main staple food supply, contain unhealthy levels of arsenic and cadmium, heavy metals that can increase risks of cancer and heart problems among other diseases, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan. Haiti is among the top buyers of U.S. rice, alongside Mexico and Japan, and cheap imports are more affordable than local options in the Caribbean country, the poorest state in the Western Hemisphere. According to the study, average concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were almost twice as high in imported rice compared to produce grown in the Central American country, with some imported samples exceeding international limits. Nearly all imported rice samples exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendations for infant consumption. The study did not evaluate toxin levels in other importing countries. The FDA and State Department did not ...