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| Rice Diversity. Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) . (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Consumer Reports On Health newsletter changed my rice-buying habits a couple of years ago when I read that rice was being grown on former cotton fields in the South and was being contaminated by the arsenic once used to kill boll weevils.
Here is a link to another article that discusses this health issue:
I had been buying Goya, Canilla and Carolina brand rice at ShopRite and after reading about the arsenic-laced fields, tried to find out where the rice was grown. But few of the labels specified the source.
I then switched to buying rice at Korean and Japanese supermarkets, where most of the rice is from California and a lot more expensive.
I continue to buy that rice. I grew up eating rice, as did my wife and son, and we eat rice three or more times a week.
Update: I went on a diet last year, eliminated bread and pizza, and switched to organic whole-wheat pasta and brown rice, which my body seems to process better (June 3, 2012).
I still try to find rice grown in California, and can usually find it on sale at H Mart, a chain of Korean supermarkets.
Costco Wholesale began selling Della-brand organic brown rice, which is grown in the South.
I called the company to find out whether the rice is grown in old cotton fields, but never could reach anyone who knew.
However, it's unlikely the rice could get an organic designation from the USDA, if it is grown in fields with pesticide residue.
I continue to buy that rice. I grew up eating rice, as did my wife and son, and we eat rice three or more times a week.
Update: I went on a diet last year, eliminated bread and pizza, and switched to organic whole-wheat pasta and brown rice, which my body seems to process better (June 3, 2012).
I still try to find rice grown in California, and can usually find it on sale at H Mart, a chain of Korean supermarkets.
Costco Wholesale began selling Della-brand organic brown rice, which is grown in the South.
I called the company to find out whether the rice is grown in old cotton fields, but never could reach anyone who knew.
However, it's unlikely the rice could get an organic designation from the USDA, if it is grown in fields with pesticide residue.
