Goodby Oryza

This is truly shocking: Rice is toxic. It contains very high levels of arsenic which is a serious toxin. Consumer Reports, in an article dated from January this year, gives the recommendation to have no more than 4 1/2 servings of white basmati rice per week.

There are several things about this. First, the amount of arsenic in brown rice is about double that of white rice. So, for brown basmati, we are talking around 2 or 2.5 servings per week.

But here’s another thing: What is a “serving”? A serving is basically a ridiculously small amount that is probably about half of what someone would realistically eat if they were hungry. As a vegan, its easy for me to consume quite a lot of rice. I also know that many if not most asian people eat a lot of rice every day, albeit usually white rice.

But if you’re like me – a healthy vegan trying to eat well and hence consuming brown rice which consists of a significant portion of my diet – then it is trouble. This is trouble.

And consider that something like a rice cake could be considered one serving. Going over the limit is not just easy, its almost guaranteed.

I’m kind of upset that there are not warnings at the natural foods stores where I buy my rice. That there are not warnings being issued by state and federal consumer and health agencies. Seriously, WTF?

And another thing I don’t understand is WTF isn’t there a listing on ingredient labels of how much arsenic there is per serving? I mean, f&#*k, if they’re going to bother to tell you how much of something, such as vitamin B6 for example, is in a food, wouldn’t you want to know even more how much of a TOXIC ELEMENT is in it? FFS!

This is just another classic example of how inept and broken down the system is. When it comes to mobilization to advance some latest ghastly biotech shit they pull out all the stops. But when it comes to providing basic levels of consumer protection and health warnings, they fail. The bottom line is that they really do not give a f$@*k about people. They only care about money.

The US House of Reps just passed abominable legislation designed to keep people in the dark about GMO in foods, even as it is revealed that the approval process is flawed.

So today I am basically going to try to almost completely quit consuming rice or anything with rice in it. That means no organic rice chips which I have liked. No rice cakes as a kind of emergency backup-type food when I really need to get some carbs. And, no rice – no cooking rice in my rice cooker.

Today I made millet instead. Years ago I used to eat millet all the time, just as I do rice now. At some point along the way I switched over to rice. But now its time to switch back.

Millet actually makes really excellent stir-fry. Really excellent.

Maybe someone will come up with a good rice percolator and even then I’m not sure how keen I will ever be to go back to rice. So for now goodbye Oryza sativa.