Healthy World: Arsenic in Some Foods

After passing through the red, yellow, and green produce department, choosing carefully only among the organic options, some health-conscious shoppers will also look for the gluten-free, organic, and other health-minded labels on their other food choices. There may be a sense of false security in those labels though.
The biggest two grocery store offenders tested? Baby formula and energy bars. As if avoiding processed foods isn't enough, now you may want to pay even more attention to the labels in your cart.

Whether it be for general health, or for special dietary needs, it is important to pay attention to research findings. After a recent study conducted at Dartmouth University, you may want to think twice about trusting the “organic” and “gluten-free” labels, in place of also reading specific ingredients.

The Trace Element Analysis Core Facility at Dartmouth has found that brown rice syrup (which has been used in organic foods, because it has been considered a healthier replacement for high fructose corn syrup) could potentially pose an entirely new set of concerns.

Brown rice easily absorbs harmful levels of inorganic arsenic (it has one of the highest absorption rates amongst all grains), which was used in pesticides until 2009 when the EPA banned it.

Unfortunately, it also stays in soil for long periods of time, leaching trace amounts into plants until it no longer remains. This inorganic arsenic has long-term impact on brain function and is also a proven carcinogen.

The levels of arsenic found in one brand of tested organic baby formula (using brown rice as the primary sweetener) had as much as “six times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safe drinking water limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for total arsenic,” according to the Dartmouth program director, professor Brian Jackson. This is based on the highest allowable level for an adult, not to mention levels allowed for an infant, where this is likely their only nutritional source.

Other foods found with alarming levels of arsenic (most specifically, those derived from the brown rice syrup) include cereal and energy bars, and high-energy foods sought out by endurance athletes. The study included nearly 50 samples, but refused to reveal which brands were tested, and which were found with "unsafe" arsenic levels.


They only published in the study findings “that there is an urgent need for regulatory limits on As [Arsenic] in food,” since the current limits are only placed on drinking water.

Is it just me, or is it beyond unnerving that the specific brands aren't being called out here?

 At-A-Glance:
Baby formula
Cereal/energy bars
Energy shots

Profile - Jim Garaventa

Tall brick walls are separated only by white-framed windows, the random ivy vine, and views obscured by Linfield College’s signature oak trees. No, you’re not taking a stroll through the McMinnville campus- you are able to see all of these breathtaking views in a great photo collage in Jim Garaventa’s office.

He also has the responsible rows of educational guidance counselor books, bobble-head dolls from "The Office," and a few pieces of sports memorabilia. This white-walled and window-less office is anything but boring.

Garaventa is LBCC’s Linfield Adult Degree Program advisor. In his 8 years at Linfield, his biggest inspiration is being able to help students reach their educational and career goals, operating as a mentor.

It is a great satisfaction to him, knowing that he can help “turn student’s dreams into a reality through education,” he said.

He enjoys helping students plan out their academic program and overcome hurdles to completing their goals.

Garaventa’s first career was teaching math and coaching football and track & field at a mid-high school.

He then moved on to teach business courses part-time at Chemeketa Community College, while taking on their educational program specialist position for over 20 years. He provided industry-specific training to a wide range of groups, scouring resources, locating trainers and speakers, to meet the given demand.

He provided this service for schools, government agencies (such as the Department of Transportation), manufacturers, and service industries. Garaventa was responsible for finding and scheduling personnel for opening and safety training for the grand opening of Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, Oregon.

He decided that it was time to retire out of the PERS system, but he wanted to continue working with people. He found another niche that fit him perfectly; Linfield was the next natural decision for him.

Garaventa loves seeing the benefits of community college, where students are more able to easily explore their options (especially if they haven’t nailed down a career path quite yet), and to keep expenses down. He likes that the class size at LBCC is smaller than large state institutions, which is a great atmosphere.

The biggest challenge that he experiences, is to make sure students stay on track, and that no one falls through the cracks. He said, “It can be very disappointing when students do not seek out advice, or follow advice they’ve been given.”

 LBCC's Nursing Department Chair Sheryl Caddy said "he gives a lot of nice, personal attention to the students, and that is not available from all schools. He is personable, he meets students one-on-one, and he comes into the classroom for informational presentations."

As a student who has recently started working with Garaventa, I can vouch for his passion to help students meet and exceed their goals, while keeping costs and responsibilities in line.

Aside from his great joy in working with people, he also has plenty to be proud of. His wife Donna, of 28 years, is a retired administrative law judge for the State of Oregon, and she currently runs her own business, providing mediation for worker’s compensation and employment issues.

He also has six children (His eldest attended Linfield College):

Kevin – 27

Karen – 25

Tim – 23

Paul – 21

Ryan – 19

Gina - 17

Going hand-in-hand with his strengths, his career path has helped him be a successful parent, understanding his role, and his children’s needs, as they go through their own educational path.

He says he’s been to plenty of t-ball games and other sports practices over the years, with many family movies. He recently helped rebuild a guitar with his son, although he claims “my music talent is a zero.” He takes his two Shelties on a walk every day (Cody and Cooper), and has a lazy rescue cat (Jack). He also enjoys some small gardening projects, and he runs a small Doug Fir Christmas tree farm in Salem.

Over the years, he has also greatly enjoyed traveling in the western United States, and has taken his family to Washington, D.C. His family has explored all modes of transportation on their many trips, including motor homes, airplane, and standard road trips in the family vehicle.

One highlight of his traveling experiences is when he visited is daughter Karen, while she was teaching English in Spain (after a previous Spain semester abroad.) In essence, he considers himself “the typical, boring family man.” He modestly says there’s nothing exciting about him, but he is also proud that he can leave a lasting impression on the lives of others, encouraging them to meet massive life goals. There is nothing boring about that!

To contact Jim Garaventa:

jgaraventa@linfield.edu

Phone: 541-917-4846

Fax: 541-917-4838

Office location: LBCC, IA-204
6500 Pacific Blvd. SW
Albany, OR 97322

Office hours: M - Tu: 9-6 Call for appointment

Garaventa, at work in his office