What is Brown Rice Syrup?

While it is tempting to focus on the first two words of this ingredient (brown rice, what could be healthier!) it is the last word that shows its true stripes. Brown rice syrup is no more than concentrated liquid sugar. It’s is as close to brown rice as grape jelly is to fresh grapes.

From Wholesome to Processed

As you may know, rice is a starchy food. Starches are simply long chains of glucose molecules linked together. Food chemists add enzymes to brown rice and—voilà!—pure sugar. How pure? According to the University of Sydney’s GlycemicIndex.com, the body reacts to rice syrup as it is 98% sugar. The healthful outer coating found on brown rice does not make any difference in the syrup form.

Why is Brown Rice Syrup Added to Formula?

Very few formulas use brown rice syrup. It is included in a few (usually organic toddler formulas) as an alternative to corn syrup or fructose.

Sugar is added to toddler formulas for flavor and to balance the macronutrient profile. One possible advantage of brown rice syrup is that it doesn’t taste as sweet as fructose-based syrups. This means it adds carbohydrates without adding excessive sweet flavor. This is appealing to some families, because they do not want to promote sweets.

Regulation and Safety

In 2012, Consumer Reports shocked the public with their series on arsenic content in juice (particularly apple juice) and infant rice cereals. Arsenic exposure is linked to skin, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder cancer.  Since 2012, the FDA and manufacturers have given much more scrutiny to the issue. However, even as late as 2017, Consumer Reports have reported high levels of arsenic in juices.

Arsenic is naturally occurring in the ground, so it can’t be completely eliminated from the food supply. Toxicity is more than mere exposure to a compound; the dose, the length of exposure, and the age of the person is also important.

While it isn’t necessary to remove all rice from an infant’s diet, I agree with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to offer baby a variety of grains. Indeed, whole grains like oatmeal, barley, and quinoa are part of a healthful diet and can be found as baby cereals.

Dietary Considerations

All religious groups, vegans, and vegetarians can consume brown rice syrup.