Rice cakes - not a good snack for kids?

In the current yearbook of the magazine Öko-Test it can be read: Twice in the past five years, the testers have examined rice waffles and discovered in it too much arsenic, carcinogenic acrylamide and in some products also a lot of cadmium. It was also claimed that products labeled as "unsalted" contained salt. Conclusion of the testers: For babies and toddlers, most rice waffles are not recommended. Even the "Hipp Kinder Rice Waffles", which performed best, showed slightly elevated arsenic levels according to the eco-test. How did trade and manufacturers react? We asked some of them.

How providers responded to the tests

Rewe has listed his "organic rice waffles without salt additive" after Öko-Test had punished them for "greatly increased arsenic levels".
Edeka no longer distributes the "Organic Millet Corn Rice Waffles". In addition, the supplier for the rice and corn waffle assortment has been changed. In addition, Edeka now has more controls and analysis regarding food production for its private label products.
Dennree, organic supplier of "rice wafers unsalted", questions the analyzes of Öko-Test. One had come to other test values. And: The complained cadmium value was below the legal limit. One will continue to offer this product from wholegrain rice. "From a holistic point of view, the advantages of using the full grain outweigh the possible disadvantages caused by it," says spokeswoman Antje Müller.
Rossmann also criticizes the test evaluation criteria: "There are no statutory limit values for foodstuffs for the parameters arsenic and acrylamide," said press spokesman Stephan-Thomas Klose. "The tested products were assessed according to a limit value determined by Öko-Test and devalued accordingly." Nevertheless, Rossmann has led his suppliers to change the recipe of the "Babydream baby rice waffles": Instead of pure whole grain rice waffles, the Taler now consist of a mix of whole grain rice and peeled rice. This reduced the arsenic content. In addition, the rice is sourced from an acreage with low arsenic soil.
The baking process was changed so that the acrylamide content could be lowered.
Hipp affirms that it will continue to do its utmost to keep arsenic in its products as low as possible.

This is how arsenic and cadmium get into the rice

Arsenic and cadmium occur naturally in the soil and enter into the grain of the grain through metabolic processes. In addition, humans have their hand in the game: Cadmium reaches the ground via fertilizer and sewage sludge. For cadmium there are limits in food, because the poison can damage kidneys and bones. In particular, arsenic is found near mines or metal huts or on former cotton fields that have been sprayed with arsenic-containing pesticides.

Why rice waffles make the problem worse?

Especially arsenic is a problem. Depending on the growing area, the substance may be more or less in the grain of rice. For arsenic in food, there are currently no limits (exception: drinking water). In rice, arsenic is present in organic and inorganic form. While the organic is considered less problematic, the inorganic is toxic and is considered carcinogenic. In rice cakes, the levels of inorganic arsenic are sometimes even greater than in the grain. This may be due to the fact that the rice grain is puffed up under high heat and arsenic is released.

How many rice waffles are allowed to eat small children

Something to snack in between - whether rice waffle, rusk or dry bread - is okay, but no substitute for a full meal. With rice snacks, the special situation of the grain must be taken into account. Already in 2010 and 2011, the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) examined 56 samples of infant formula based on rice (including rice cakes). All contained inorganic arsenic in varying amounts. Problematic: Children under the age of three take two to three times more arsenic than their adult body weight. As long as there is no limit to arsenic in food, you can stick to the recommendation of the LGL. That is: If you consume less than ten mini rice waffles to two grams, once a week as a snack, no significant health risk is to be expected. It also gives good advice to anyone who uses products with particularly low levels of arsenic (see test reports, and manufacturers may also provide information). Another possibility: corn waffles - no significant amounts of arsenic have been found so far.

Acrylamide - still an issue

Acrylamide is formed when carbohydrate-rich foods are heated to a high degree, for example by baking, roasting and frying. It is a byproduct of the browning process.The substance is suspected of being carcinogenic and mutagenic. Especially in children up to the age of seven, caution is advised. In 2011, the EU set guidelines for acrylamide levels in most foods. In order to reduce the contents, usually recipes or production processes of biscuits, crispbread or fries must be changed. Many food manufacturers have done that too. But the topic is still virulent because food test again and again to high acrylamide levels in products to light days. Detailed information on this topic in the article Acrylamide: Unwanted substance in food of the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia.