Status: 14.10.2023, 09:20 a.m.
By: Vivian Werg
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Rice is healthy and tasty. But a grain of rice can contain a lot of harmful substances – even if it is organic. This is the conclusion reached by Öko-Test.
Kassel – Rice is rich in carbohydrates and is therefore ideal as a satisfying source of energy. According to the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), it should be an integral part of a balanced diet. Although it is considered healthy, not all rice is recommended, according to the consumer magazine Öko-Test. Experts tested a total of 21 products, eleven of which were certified organic. Some of the results are worrying.
Rice is the number one staple food for around half of the world's population. © Martin G. Dr. Baumgä/ Imago
Rice in the Öko-Test: These products have been tested
In the October issue, experts from the consumer magazine took a closer look at brown rice, basmati rice and risotto rice. Here is an overview of all tested products:
| Rice: | Manufacturer/sold at: |
| K-Bio Long Grain Brown Rice | Kaufland |
| Risotto Rice | Oryza |
| Long Grain Top Rice Natural | Rapunzel |
| Camargue Brown Rice | Health food shop |
| Best Choice Risotto Rice | Rewe |
| Satori Basmati Rice | Netto Marken-Discount |
| Taste of Asia Basmati Rice | Penny |
| Brown rice | Tegut |
| Unpackaged for all brown rice long grain | Demeter |
| Himalayan Basmati Rice | Alnatura |
| Golden Sun Organic Basmati Rice | Lidl |
| Loose Rice Risotto | Ben's Original |
| Organic Sun Organic Rice Natural | Norma |
| Bon-Ri Basmati Rice | Aldi North and South |
| Genuine Arborio Rice White | Davert |
| Risotto rice, white | Dennree |
| Organic basmati rice, white, Naturland | Dm |
| Natural Rice | Edeka |
| Ener Organic Basmati Rice, white, Naturland | Rossmann |
| Rice Risotto Selezione Speciale | Gallo |
| Risotto Rice | Globe |
Many of the products tested are contaminated with harmful substances. For some, the values are so high that they fail the test and for two products a sales stop has even been initiated. Only recently, popular potato chips were tested in the Öko-Test – with devastating results. Stiftung Warentest also tested the snacks, five of which failed outright.
Rice in the Öko-Test: The criteria were taken into account in the analysis
The laboratory examined the rice products for the following points, among others:
- Heavy metals
- Contamination with inorganic arsenic, cadmium, pesticide residues, mineral oil components and other pollutants
- Packaging
- Supply chain information
Rice in the Öko-Test: Laboratory detects a pesticide banned in EU in organic rice
As can be seen from the report of the consumer magazine, the brown rice of the Norma brand "Bio Sonne" is particularly disappointing. Two pollutants in particular were detected in the organic product: the pesticide 1,2 dichloroethane and aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons.
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The compound 1,2 dichloroethane is classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" according to the CLP Regulation and is on the list of substances of very high concern in the EU Chemicals Regulation. Aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons are a large group of substances that the consumer magazine is particularly critical of, because they also contain carcinogenic compounds.
According to the assessment of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), an "acute impairment of the health of children and adults by the consumption of this rice sample is basically possible". According to Öko-Test, Norma confirmed the results in its own analysis and then removed brown rice from its range.
Rice in the Öko-Test: Rapunzel also stops sales because of too much cadmium in brown rice
The organic producer Rapunzel also ordered a sales stop and the withdrawal of the affected rice. In the "Rapunzel Long Grain Top Rice Natural", the laboratory has measured a cadmium content that exceeds the EU limit value by more than two. This is serious, because it is a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the body and can lead to kidney and bone damage if ingested in high doses over a long period of time.
Overall, the organic products were particularly disappointing in the test. In addition to Norma's "Bio-Sonne", Öko-Test downgraded five other organic rice products due to saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons. Only three conventional products also received a poor result.
Rice in the Öko-Test: Other pesticides are also criticised by experts
Four of the seven nature trips tested and one risotto rice have an increased content of inorganic arsenic, according to the consumer magazine. Arsenic occurs naturally in the soil and is toxic and carcinogenic. It enters the rice grain via groundwater. Overall, only two out of seven nature trips manage to stay below the depreciation threshold for cadmium and arsenic.
Since 2016, the European Union has set maximum levels for rice and rice products because rice naturally has a higher content of inorganic arsenic than other cereal products. But twice a limit is exceeded and sales stops follow. "We only very rarely have this in one and the same test," explained Vanessa Christa, food chemist andÖko-Test project manager.
In the test, the experts also came across other pesticides such as deltamethrin in combination with the enhancer piperonyl butoxide. The insecticide deltamethrin is toxic to bees and is therefore included on the list of highly dangerous pesticides by the Pesticide Action Network. In addition, also on tebuconazole. It is considered presumably harmful to the child in the womb. Two producers did not provide any information on the country of cultivation and the supply chain.
Rice in the Öko-Test: These are the results
Four products in the test scored top marks and are recommendable. Some of them also receive a "good" grade. In the tasting by trained sensory experts, all trips tasted impeccable.
The results at a glance:
- In the case of brown rice, none of the seven products scored top marks. The K-Bio Long Grain Brown Rice from Kaufland is rated "good". The rest is satisfactory or worse.
- When it comes to basmati rice, the "Golden Sun Organic Basmati Rice from Lidl" is the winner. The basmati rice from Aldi, dm, Rossmann, Nett, Penny and Alnatura all scored "good".
- When it comes to risotto rice, there are three test winners: "Davert Real Arborio Rice White", "Denree Risotto Rice, White" and "Best Choice Risotto Rice" from Rewe.
- Source: Chip.de
The complete rice test report from Öko-Test is available for a fee here.
Rice: What you should keep in mind when cooking
Rice is a popular accompaniment to many dishes. In order to reduce the pollutant content somewhat, the BfR recommends washing rice and boiling it with plenty of water so that arsenic can be poured off over the cooking water. The Bremen Consumer Advice Centre also advises choosing carbohydrate sources such as potatoes, pasta or buckwheat in addition to rice.
The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) advises to rely on whole grains, especially for cereal products. In another test with different types of beer, harmful substances were also detected – two products even failed. A frightening result was obtained in a test with frozen chicken nuggets. (Vivian Werg)