By: Anthony Flood Date: 6/9/11
Until recently, you probably never heard about arsenic. And if you did, perhaps it was about the 1944 classic movie “Arsenic and Old Lace” starring Cary Grant. Aside from it being used as a weapon in the stage play and movie, arsenic occurs naturally in the environment. Arsenic is distributed in the earth’s crust and is found in plants and animals. Arsenic has a number of industrial uses – its compounds are used for pesticides and wood treatments.
But what about arsenic in food? Is that a public health risk?
Arsenic can be found in soil, food and water. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides specific industry guidance on ensuring the levels are well below those that would impact public health. The levels are normally measured in parts per million (ppm). One ppm is approximately “a single drop of water in an Olympic –sized swimming pool.”
A Recent study by FDA suggests there to be an increased level of inorganic arsenic in broiler chickens. These levels are still far below any levels associated with a public health risk. The FDA stresses “the levels of inorganic arsenic detected very low and that continuing to eat chicken . . . does not pose a health risk.” Under a new test method devised by FDA, these low levels of inorganic arsenic were detected. But FDA, producers and other stakeholders agree that there is no need to change your diet based on these low levels of arsenic detected in chickens. According to the National Chicken Council (NCC), “chicken is safe to eat” and the FDA sees no need to raise an unnecessary alarm about this issue.
Putting Risk in Perspective: Here’s what you Need to Know . . .
Arsenic whether organic or inorganic in its purest forms can impact the environment and public health. However, we are only exposed to very low levels. At these very low levels, arsenic in the environment is not a public health concern, and based on the FDA study, there is no need to change your diet. If for any reason you may have a concern over dietary exposure, maintain a diet that is rich in a variety of foods and follows the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans Recommendations for healthful eating.
CDC Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (arsenic)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=3
US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm258342.htm
2011 Dietary Guidelines
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm