The FSAI has issued a stark warning to parents against feeding rice milk to infants and toddlers due to the presence of arsenic.
Children up to the age of 4.5 years should not consume rice milk as a substitute for cows' milk, breast milk or infant formula, warned the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Rice-based infant formula and follow-on formula are not legally permitted to be sold in the European market.
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The warning comes as a rice milk product, Prémibio Prémiriz, is available to buy online via a co.uk website.
These types of products have low levels of inorganic arsenic and do not meet the legal compositional and nutritional requirements for infants.
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of FSAI, said: "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."
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