abstract
Spanish gluten-free rice, cereals with gluten, and pureed baby foods were analysed for total (t-As) and
inorganic As (i-As) using ICP-MS and HPLCeICP-MS, respectively. Besides, pure infant rice from China, USA,
UK and Spain were also analysed. The i-As contents were significantly higher in gluten-free rice than in
cereals mixtures with gluten, placing infants with celiac disease at high risk. All rice-based products
displayed a high i-As content, with values being above 60% of the t-As content and the remainder being
dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Approximately 77% of the pure infant rice samples showed contents below
150 mg kg1 (Chinese limit). When daily intake of i-As by infants (4e12 months) was estimated and
expressed on a bodyweight basis (mgd1 kg1), itwas higher in all infants aged 8e12 months than drinking
water maximum exposures predicted for adults (assuming 1 L consumption per day for a 10 mg L1
standard).