That rice cakes are healthy is an accepted fact. You can find out here why the popular snack is still not harmless to health.
Rice waffles are considered healthy and low in calories: A waffle contains just between 20 and 40 kilocalories. According to the list of ingredients, rice cakes often contain relatively few ingredients and usually no questionable additives.
The crispy snack is also popular as a snack for children. But according to several studies by Öko-Test, the popular waffles are not harmless to health.
Rice cakes as a healthy snack?
Arsenic is found in all rice products. However, the contamination is particularly high in rice cakes. In order to produce the supposedly healthy rice cakes, the producers have to extract the moisture from the rice grains by heating them up. This increases the concentration of the pollutant. Research is still being carried out into other reasons for the high arsenic content in rice cakes.
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), inorganic arsenic is classified as a carcinogenic substance. In addition, even small amounts can damage the nerves, skin and blood vessels, as well as cardiovascular diseases and have a negative impact on development. The BfR is therefore of the opinion that foods should contain as little arsenic as possible.
Other pollutants: acrylamide, mineral oils & Co.
The second factor challenging rice cakes as a healthy snack is acrylamide. According to scientific studies, this substance is also suspected of increasing the risk of cancer. However, the exact connection has not yet been clearly clarified.
Acrylamide is formed when carbohydrate-rich foods are heated to high temperatures, such as when baking rice cakes. As a result, however, it is also found in many other baked, roasted or fried products, e.g. in chips or fries.
There is no fixed limit for the daily intake of acrylamide. The consumer center recommends consuming as little as possible. Children are considered to be particularly at risk. Because of their lower weight, the acrylamide concentration in their body rises faster.
Healthy despite rice cakes? You should note that
The investigations of the BfR showed that we ingest relatively high amounts of inorganic arsenic through rice products. This is particularly dangerous for children, who are even more sensitive to pollutants.
Nevertheless, the BfR recommends consuming rice in moderation as part of a balanced diet and alternating it with other types of grain. Appropriate amounts of (low-emission) rice cakes can also be part of a healthy diet.
Especially people suffering from celiac disease often consume large amounts of rice and rice products. In this case, you should also regularly include other gluten-free grains such as buckwheat, corn or millet in your diet. To avoid arsenic in rice cakes, you can also use alternatives such as spelled and corn cakes.