Overview
Shi et al. compiled and analyzed cadmium concentrations in 2,270 polished white rice samples from the global market supply chain. The source is direct rice-grain occurrence evidence and infant-rice-food context because the authors compare rice-grain cadmium distributions with the EU 40 ug/kg processed-infant-food standard for products that can be nearly all rice.
Key numbers
| Finding | Source-reported value |
|---|---|
| Global sample size | 2,270 polished white rice samples across 32 countries |
| Global Cd distribution | <4.9 to 3,712 ug/kg; global median 19.0 ug/kg |
| Highest country median | China median 69.3 ug/kg; max 3,712 ug/kg |
| Low country medians | Malawi and Tanzania medians 4.9 ug/kg, at the study’s half-LOD value |
| EU rice-grain standard comparison | 5% of the global supply chain exceeded 200 ug/kg |
| China comparison | 17% of Chinese samples exceeded 200 ug/kg |
| Processed infant-food comparison | 25% of rice would not be suitable for pure rice baby foods under the stricter 40 ug/kg standard |
| US sample summary | n=18; median 17.05 ug/kg; max 31.8 ug/kg |
| Italy sample summary | n=205; median 25.7 ug/kg; max 226.2 ug/kg |
The authors emphasize that cadmium and inorganic arsenic risks can co-occur in rice, so source-region selection matters for infant rice foods and other high-rice formulations.
Methods (brief)
Rice samples were freeze dried and digested, and cadmium was quantified by ICP-MS. The LOD was 9.8 ug/kg, and values below LOD were substituted with half-LOD (4.9 ug/kg) for distribution reporting. The paper reports country-level minimum, 25th percentile, median, 75th percentile, maximum, and range.
Implications
This source supports rice bulk-grain and rice-based infant-food context for cadmium. It is not a cereal-bar occurrence dataset despite the wishlist filename; routing to cereal bars should be contextual only when rice is a major ingredient. Values must remain country- and market-source aware.
Related evidence
- Rice (white, brown, wild — bulk grain)
- Infant Rice Cereal
- Baby Cereals / Grain Products, Dry (Rice-Based)
- Teething & Snacks (Rice-Based)
- Rice
- Cadmium
Update history
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