Chemicals · Metals
Arsenic (total) in food
All forms of arsenic together. Most arsenic in seafood is a less toxic organic form, so a total can overstate the risk. FDA background
What's a lot?
No US agency publishes a daily limit for arsenic (total) that we can cite yet, so we show levels without a yardstick.
ppb means micrograms per kilogram of food: 100 ppb is 100 µg in 2.2 lb of food. A daily limit is about long-run averages; one high day is not the same as eating it every day.
Foods highest in arsenic (total)
From FDA's Total Diet Study: everyday foods bought around the US and tested as eaten. FDA found arsenic (total) in 181 of the 307 foods it tested.
| Food | Average | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| Cod, baked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Frozen Fish & Seafood · Fish & Seafood · Fish Unprepared/Unprocessed | 4,915 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
| Tuna, canned in water, drained solids 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Canned Seafood · Canned Tuna · Sushi | 1,200 ppb | rarely found (3 of 3) |
| Fish sticks or patty, frozen, oven-cooked 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Frozen Appetizers & Hors D'oeuvres · Frozen Fish & Seafood · Frozen Fish/Seafood | 757 ppb | rarely found (3 of 3) |
| Salmon, steaks/fillets, baked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Fish & Seafood · Canned Seafood · Sushi | 376 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
| Shrimp, pre-cooked, shells removed, no tails 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Frozen Fish & Seafood · Fish & Seafood · Sushi | 358 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
| Cereal, crisped rice 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Cereal · Cereals Products - Ready to Eat (Shelf Stable) · Breakfast Cereals - Hot And Cold | 170 ppb | rarely found (3 of 3) |
| Soup, clam chowder, New England, canned, ready to serve 2018-2020, found in 3 of 3 Prepared Soups | 160 ppb | rarely found (3 of 3) |
| Tilapia, baked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Frozen Fish & Seafood · Fish & Seafood · Fish Unprepared/Unprocessed | 117 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
| Baby food, cereal, rice, dry 2018-2020, found in 9 of 9 | 109 ppb | rarely found (9 of 9) |
| Baking powder 2020, found in 1 of 1 Baking/Cooking Mixes/Supplies · Baking Additives & Extracts · Baking Needs | 77 ppb | rarely found (1 of 1) |
| Rice, brown, cooked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Rice · Other Grains & Seeds · Flavored Rice Dishes | 64.3 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
| Rice, white, enriched, cooked 2017-2020, found in 27 of 27 Rice · Flavored Rice Dishes · Sushi | 44.8 ppb | rarely found (27 of 27) |
"Average" counts samples below the lab's limit as zero. A food high on this list matters only if you eat a lot of it, which is what the last column shows.
Official limits
- FDA action level for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal: 100 ppb (2020)For infant rice cereal. Applies to inorganic arsenic. A total-arsenic result includes less toxic forms, so it overstates inorganic arsenic. Source
Foods with lab results
1,031 named foods have published results; the 10 highest are below. Each links to the full record.
| Product | Median | Found in | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEQUESQUITE (Natural Mineral Salt) (brand not recorded) | 5,600 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Tequesquite (brand not recorded) | 2,550 ppb | 8 of 8 | Measured in this product NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com |
| Brown Texmati Signature Variety American Style Basmati Rice RiceSelect |
522 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Organic Rice Cakes Puffed Rice Snack - Apple HappyBABY |
455 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2019), via detectlead.com |
| BioKinetics Brown Rice Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Baby Cereal BioKinetics |
353 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2019), via detectlead.com |
| Enriched Medium Grain Rice Goya |
342 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Long Grain Brown Rice First Street |
317 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
| Organic Puffs - Apple Strawberry O Organics (Albertson/Safeway) |
309 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2019), via detectlead.com |
| Whole Grain Puffs Broccoli & Spinach Simple Truth Organic (Kroger) |
307 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2019), via detectlead.com |
| Carolina Gold Rice Marsh Hen Mill |
301 ppb | 1 of 1 | Measured in this product Healthy Babies Bright Futures (2025), via detectlead.com |
Supplements, medicines and remedies (98)
Mostly imported remedies tested by health departments during lead-poisoning investigations.
- Garbha Chintamani Ras(Vrihat) (Swarna Yukt) (Ayur)median 52,000,000 ppb, highest 52,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- KGS Safflower & Cassia Combo (Gastric Health Tablets) (Wei Tong Ding) Herbal Supplementmedian 32,000,000 ppb, highest 32,000,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Mahashakti Rasayan (Ayurvedic)median 1,700,000 ppb, highest 1,700,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Swarnamahayogamedian 1,400,000 ppb, highest 1,400,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Swarna Malini Vasant (Ayurvedic)median 1,300,000 ppb, highest 1,300,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Abhrak Bhasma (Ayurvedic)median 1,200,000 ppb, highest 1,200,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Ovarin (Ayurvedic)median 650,000 ppb, highest 1,200,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Trishun (Ayurvedic)median 620,000 ppb, highest 620,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Garbhapal Ras (Ayurvedic) (brand not recorded)median 410,000 ppb, highest 410,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
- Brahmi Bati (Buddhi Vardhak) (Ayurvedic)median 240,000 ppb, highest 240,000 · NYC Health Department, via detectlead.com
Recent FDA recalls naming arsenic (total)
29 recalls in FDA's records name arsenic (total) as the reason; the 5 most recent are below.
- 2025-06-11 · Publix Super Markets, Inc.Greenwise Pear Kiwi Spinach & Pea Baby Food Pouch. Net Wt 4 oz. (113g). Stage 2 6 months+, Best if" date of 11/01/2025. Packed in 14 pouches per case, 4 oz per pouch. Distributed by Publix Super Markets, Inc. 3300 Publix Corporate Parkway Lakeland, FL 33881.Elevated levels of Lead, cadmium and arsenic FDA record
- 2025-04-30 · NEW YORK WHOLESALE GROUPZaarah Herbals brand Bhringraj Powder; packaged in 100g clear jars with gold lids; UPC: 6 35028 99973 1Products contain elevated levels of Lead (Pb): 3.231 ppm and Arsenic (As): 0.958 ppm; FDA record
- 2024-09-11 · Refresco Beverages US Inca.) Great Value 8oz Apple Juice in 6pack; PET plastic bottle b.) Great Value 96oz Apple Juice; PET plastic bottle c.) Market Basket 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle d.) Nice! 100% apple juice ; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle e.) Weis 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle f.) Urban Meadow 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle g.) Natures Nectar 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle h.) Wellsley Farms 100% apple juice; 96 oz; PET plastic bottle i.) Solevita 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle j.) Clover Valley 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottle k.) Tropical Delight 100% apple juice; 64 oz; PET plastic bottleProducts contains inorganic arsenic above action level set in guidance to industry. FDA record
- 2024-08-28 · Refresco Beverages US IncGreat Value; 8oz Apple Juice in 6 pack; 100% Juice; packaged in 8 oz. PET plastic bottles; UPC 0-78742-29655-5Product contains inorganic arsenic above action level set in industry guidance (13.2ppb) FDA record
- 2024-05-15 · S Martinelli & CompanyMartinelli's Gold Medal Apple Juice From U.S. Grown Fresh Apples 1 Liter (33.8 fl oz.) No Additives of Any Kind UPC 0 00 41244 00102 6Elevated levels of inorganic arsenic. FDA record
Levels in people
CDC measures arsenic (total) in people across the US. Compare a test result with the US population.