Global Rice News

US Rice Exports to Haiti Contain Unsafe Levels of Arsenic and Cadmium, Study Finds

Rice has long been a key food staple in Haiti, with the majority of the country’s supplies being imported from the United States. However, a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan has revealed that these rice imports contain unhealthy levels of arsenic and cadmium, heavy metals known to increase the risks of cancer and heart disease.

Haiti is one of the biggest buyers of rice from the US, alongside Mexico and Japan. The affordability of these cheap imports makes them a more attractive option than locally grown rice in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

The study found that the average concentrations of arsenic and cadmium in imported rice were nearly double those found in rice grown in Haiti. Some imported samples even exceeded international limits for these toxic substances. Shockingly, almost all imported rice samples exceeded the US Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation for children’s consumption. However, it’s worth noting that the study did not assess levels of toxins in rice imports to other countries.

At the time of writing, neither the US FDA nor the US State Department had responded to requests for comment on the study’s findings.

The study attributes the dominance of imported rice in Haiti to lower import tariffs and long-term contracts that were signed during periods of political unrest in the late 1980s and 1990s. Almost 90% of the rice consumed in Haiti is imported, and the vast majority of it comes from the US.

Former US President Bill Clinton, who played a role in promoting subsidies for US rice in Haiti, admitted that it was a “mistake” and acknowledged the negative impact it had on local rice production.

The study also highlighted the relatively lax limits on arsenic and cadmium concentrations in the US, both of which can contaminate food and water through both human and naturally occurring sources. Rice, in particular, is susceptible to absorbing these heavy metals.

Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas were identified as the top exporting states mentioned in the report.

The study found that on average, Haitians consume 85 kg (187 lb) of rice per year, compared to just 12 kg in the US. This puts young Haitians at a much greater risk of developing health complications related to the consumption of rice contaminated with arsenic and cadmium.

The report strongly criticized the flooding of US rice into Haiti, both economically for small-scale Haitian farmers struggling to sell their locally grown rice and for the long-term health of Haitian consumers. It called for an ethical investigation into US rice exporters, measures to strengthen Haiti’s agricultural sector, and urgent improvements to the country’s food safety regulations.

In addition to these challenges, Haiti is also dealing with a violent conflict between heavily armed gangs, which is spreading to farmlands and leading to further increases in food prices. The United Nations estimates that over 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes, and approximately 40% of the population is suffering from hunger.

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