The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned parents not to use rice milk to feed infants and young children as it contains low levels of inorganic arsenic.
The authority reiterated advice on Thursday that babies and children up to 4.5 years old should not consume rice milk as substitutes for cows’ milk, breast milk or infant formula.
The FSAI previously issued warnings on the dangers of the products after research findings indicated that there are low levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice milk.
A new notice was issued after it came to the FSAI’s attention that a rice-based infant and follow-on formula, Prémibio Prémiriz is still available to buy online via a co.uk website.
Such infant formulas are not legally permitted to be sold on the European market, as they do not meet the legal compositional and nutritional requirements for infants.
The FSAI said it is in contact with authorities in the UK and other Member States to discontinue the sale of the product in Europe from the website.
It also said it is contacting the relevant hospitals and public health professionals to inform them of the online sales.
Chief Executive, FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, warned consumers that these products should not be placed on the European market.
She said: “Rice-based infant formula and follow-on formula are not legally permitted to be sold on the European market, as they do not meet infants’ nutritional requirements. Also, there is a concern around the inorganic arsenic content of rice-based products intended for young children.
“The FSAI is aware from published studies that low levels of inorganic arsenic have been detected in rice milk in the past, and the recommendation is that infants and young children up to 4.5 years are not exposed to these products.
“Arsenic is present in the environment and, therefore, can be present in a range of foods, including rice, at low levels. The toxicity of arsenic depends on the form in which it is present, this being either organic or inorganic. The inorganic form is the more toxic form and the FSAI states that exposure to this should be kept as low as reasonably practicable.
“As a precaution, to reduce exposure to inorganic arsenic, parents and guardians should not give these foods to infants and young children up to 4.5 years.”
