Sweeteners
Brown rice syrup
Definition
What it is
Brown rice syrup: high glycemic index sweetener; a 2012 Dartmouth study found arsenic contamination in organic brown rice syrup used in baby formula and energy bars.
On the label
Label names covered by this flag
- brown rice syrup
- rice syrup
- rice malt syrup
Regulation
Regulatory status
No bans or restrictions are recorded for this ingredient in the jurisdictions clearlabel tracks (US, EU, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia/NZ, Brazil).
Explainer
In plain language
Brown rice syrup is a sweetener made by breaking down the starches in cooked rice into sugars, producing a thick liquid with a mild flavor. It is often chosen as an alternative to cane sugar or corn syrup, including in products marketed as organic or natural. It is mostly glucose-based, so it sweetens and binds without the fructose found in many other syrups.
Assessment
Why it is flagged
The main concern is not the sugar itself but contamination. A 2012 study from Dartmouth, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, found measurable arsenic in some organic brown rice syrup and in products that used it, including certain infant formulas and energy bars. Rice takes up arsenic from soil and water more readily than many crops, so rice-derived ingredients can carry trace amounts. Brown rice syrup also has a high glycemic index, meaning it can raise blood sugar quickly, similar to other concentrated sweeteners. Testing methods and product formulations have changed since 2012, and contamination levels vary by source, so Clear Label flags it for transparency rather than as a fixed hazard. People who eat many rice-based products may choose to vary their sources.
In the aisle
Where it commonly shows up
- Energy bars and granola bars
- Some organic or natural sweetened snacks
- Brown rice syrup-sweetened cereals
- Some infant and toddler foods
- Nut butters and spreads marketed as refined-sugar-free
- Vegan candies and treats
Practical
Reading the label
It appears as brown rice syrup, rice syrup, or rice malt syrup, often in products that avoid cane sugar or corn syrup. Seeing it does not tell you the arsenic level, which depends on the rice source and processing.
Alternatives
If you want to avoid it
Some people who want to vary their sweetener sources choose products using maple syrup, honey, or date-based sweeteners instead. Rotating between different sweeteners, rather than relying on any single rice-based one, is a common approach.
FAQ
Common questions
Does all brown rice syrup contain arsenic?
Not necessarily. The 2012 Dartmouth study found arsenic in some samples, and levels depend on the rice source and processing. It highlighted a contamination risk rather than a fixed amount present in every product.
Is brown rice syrup healthier than regular sugar?
It is often marketed that way, but it has a high glycemic index and can raise blood sugar quickly. It is lower in fructose than some syrups, though that is a different trade-off, not a clear advantage.
Why does rice pick up arsenic?
Rice absorbs arsenic from soil and water more readily than many other crops, so ingredients concentrated from rice can carry trace amounts. This is why rice-based products in particular get tested for it.
Citations
Sources
Citation
Primary reference
About this page: the definition, label names, severity, and regulatory chips come from the clearlabel ingredient taxonomy, the same data the scanner uses to score products. Research summaries describe associations reported in published studies, not diagnoses; individual responses vary. Scan any product with clearlabel to see which of its ingredients carry flags.