Nature's One® Responds
Organic Brown Rice Syrup Concerns
- Nature's One Announces Goal for Zero Arsenic in Baby Formula
5-21-12 MEDIA PRESS RELEASE
Lewis Center, Ohio -- The manufacturer of the nation’s first organic baby formula today announced its expanded purity initiative to minimize or eliminate environmental contaminants known to be in the U.S. food supply, such as arsenic and other heavy metals, pesticide residues and hidden chemicals used in processing like hexane.
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- Actual Testing Results by Applied Speciation Laboratory
Since there are currently no U.S. standards for rice, the world trade turns to the arsenic guidelines offered by the CODEX Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF). These guidelines define acceptable levels for arsenic in "rice based foods for infants." Nature's One's testing proves all Baby's Only Organic® formulas meet CODEX.
CODEX: Inorganic arsenic in rice-based foods for infants (up to 12 months) and young children (12 to 36 months), 0.2 mg/kg
Inorganic Arsenic Results by Applied Speciation Lab for Baby's Only Organic® Formulas
Baby's Only Organic® Formulas
Inorganic Arsenic
Inorganic Arsenic
Dairy with DHA
0.044 mg/kg
78% below CODEX
Soy-based
0.051 mg/kg
74.5% below CODEX
Dairy-based
0.053 mg/kg
73.5% below CODEX
LactoRelief TM (Dairy-based)
0.083 mg/kg
58.5% below CODEX
- Nature's One® Previous Correspondence
- As the leader in organic pediatric nutrition, why didn't Nature's One® test for arsenic before?
As the first organic formula manufacturer in the U.S., Nature's One is proud of its track record for taking the lead in eliminating the use of contaminants from the start. Technology has recently improved where we can now measure arsenic to atomic levels. This is why universities are making headline news as the nation becomes more aware of the backlash resulting from past pesticide abuse. In 2009, Nature's One tested for arsenic using the most modern methods at the time and no arsenic was detected. Since there are no FDA guidelines on arsenic and the results reflected "undetectable" at testing levels, we were at a impasse. Nature's One is grateful for the advancements in science and our ability to now test at atomic levels. With this knowledge, we can successfully identify the best organic brown rice syrup for infant and toddler consumption.
- What types of tests are you currently performing on Baby's Only Organic® Formulas?
In addition to the battery of microbiological tests performed by all formula companies, Nature's One is now testing for arsenic and genetically modified ingredients.
- Are other infant formula manufacturers testing for arsenic?
As far as we are aware, Nature's One is the only company actively testing every production batch of formula to insure its arsenic levels meet world standards for infant consumption of rice-based foods. If you would like additional information pertaining to arsenic levels in infant formulas, refer to a recently published study "Arsenic concentration and speciation in Infant Formulas and First Foods."1 All 15 infant formulas sold in the U.S. contained arsenic and researchers noted sixty percent of those infant formulas contained 100% inorganic arsenic; considered by the World Health Organization and FDA to be the toxic form.
1. Arsenic concentration and speciation in infant formulas and first foods, Jackson, Brian P.; Taylor, Vivien F.; Punshon, Tracy; Cottingha, Kathryn L., 1USA; February 1, 2012, Pure and Applied Chemistry, page 9. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=279137804
- Do world standards for rice-based infant foods apply to infant and toddler formulas?
Since the FDA has not established arsenic standards for U.S. manufacturers, the CODEX world standard is the most appropriate method for measuring safe arsenic levels in Baby's Only Organic® formulas.2 To be clear, it is not appropriate to use drinking water standards to measure arsenic in foods. Currently there is no formula on the world market today that consists solely of rice ingredients. Our dairy and soy formulas do not contain 100% rice. In fact, Baby's Only Organic® formulas contain about 40% of organic brown rice syrup while by weight the remaining 60% consists of protein (dairy or soy), fats (sunflower/safflower, soy, and coconut oils), vitamins and minerals. Baby's Only Organic® formulas have always been safe for consumption and fall 58% to 73% below the CODEX proposed world standard. Again, our formulas are nutrient rich with many different ingredients and they consist of much lower arsenic levels than world standards proposed for rice-based foods for infants.
2. JOINT FAO/WHO FOOD STANDARDS PROGRAMME CODEX COMMITTEE ON CONTAMINANTS IN FOODS 5th Session The Hague, The Netherlands, 21 – 25 March 2011, page 20, and paragraph 72: http://www.cclac.org/documentos/CCCF/2011/3%20Documentos/Documentos%20Ingles/cf05_INF.pdf
- Is Baby's Only Organic® Formula safe for consumption?
Yes, Nature's One products are safe for a baby to consume. Our company has been manufacturing and feeding babies since 1999 and has never had a reported adverse reaction to any of its products. Baby's Only Organic® formulas offer parents high quality nutrition using non-GMO ingredients that are free from harsh chemicals like hexane solvent, pesticides, bovine growth hormones and antibiotics. Additionally these products do not contain corn syrup, palm olein oil or algae (DHA) and fungus (ARA) oils.
As a result of pollution and natural elements, all soil contains heavy metals such as arsenic. However, many of these elements are greatly reduced in Nature's One® formulas because they are produced using organic ingredients. Organic certification means harmful elements are not introduced into foods by manmade pesticides, herbicides and other chemical contaminants. Testing of Nature's One® formulas by an independent FDA approved laboratory has shown that levels of organic and inorganic arsenic are well below international standards for infants and children.
Nature's One® has begun testing all production batches of its products for arsenic to insure they continue to be safe for consumption among infants and young children. Our mission is to identify the best and purest ingredients. This includes sourcing the purest rice wherever it may be found in the world. Our goal is to produce products with the lowest arsenic test results compared to any other formula or nutritional beverage. - What levels of arsenic are harmful?
Organic arsenic is naturally occurring and as stated in the Dartmouth report, there is no direct evidence of human health effects. Inorganic arsenic is the result of long term use of pesticides, fertilizers and sewage sludge – a known source of heavy metals that contaminate crops. Arsenic is a heavy metal and extreme exposure to inorganic arsenic for extended periods of time can have negative health implications. This is why the EPA has set limits on drinking water and the National Institute of Environmental Health Services is proposing regulatory limits on arsenic in foods. The World Health Organization's CODEX Committee has proposed world guidelines for maximum limits of inorganic arsenic in rice-based foods for infants and toddlers. Baby's Only Organic® formulas are 58% to 73% BELOW this world standard.
The U.S. water supply is significantly impacted as a result of the run-off chemicals used on crops. The EPA has established a standard that assumes a daily consumption in addition to background exposures from the diet at a limit of 10 parts-per-billion (ppb) per liter of drinking water over the average life expectancy. Recommended water consumption of an adult is 3-8 liters of water; so consuming up to 80ppb of arsenic per day is considered safe in drinking water.
Nature's One's organic brown rice syrup is grown on organic fields that are not treated with chemicals like pesticides or sewage sludge. As a result of water run-off from other conventionally grown crops, the water supply now contains inorganic arsenic that impacts organic fields. The level of arsenic in the water is based on crop damage from generations past. There is absolutely no way to avoid arsenic in the human diet; breast milk, infant formula, grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats all contain arsenic. The level of arsenic in mother's breast milk depends upon the water supply and the foods she eats. - What are the EPA, FDA & USDA regulations for Arsenic?
There is no FDA, USDA or EPA standard limit established for foods for infants, children or adults. The EPA has established an arsenic limit of 10 parts per billion per liter for drinking water.
Nature's One has been in conversation with the FDA and requested that they address the public's concerns by issuing a statement regarding the following:
- What standard reference testing method does the FDA use to identify arsenic levels?
- What is the "best available" guidance regarding safe levels of arsenic in foods, both organic and inorganic?
- When will the FDA consider defining the safe arsenic levels of food
- Why did Nature's One select organic brown rice syrup for their formulas?
Nature's One selected organic brown rice syrup as its carbohydrate source due to its high nutritional qualities. Carbohydrates are one of the crucial dietary sources of energy that supports the brain, enables muscular contractions, and provides the fuel necessary for a baby's rapid growth through 24-months of age. So it is important for a child to get plenty of carbohydrates from good sources. Baby's Only Organic® source of carbohydrate comes from organic brown rice syrup that requires minimal processing and offers the benefits of slower digestion and absorption of complex sugars that provide a steady supply of energy to a baby.
- Does the FDA permit organic brown rice syrup in the production of infant formula?
Nature's One executives and scientific group met with the FDA at College Park, MD, on September 13, 2010 to address the use of organic brown rice syrup in infant formula. The meeting included the entire FDA Infant Formula Group (including highly qualified scientist(s), medical doctor(s) and PhD(s) responsible for protecting infant nutrition). Also present were representatives from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). This robust meeting included discussions related to technical issues with organic brown rice syrup. Additionally, the CFSAN confirmed grain based carbohydrates are already generally regarded as safe (GRAS) in infant formulas.
