American rice, widely consumed in Haiti, is polluted with heavy metals, according to a study. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the University of Michigan.
In 2020, a Haitian ate on average 85 kg of rice compared to 12 kg for an American. Nearly all imported rice samples exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendations for children's consumption. Heavy metals increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the study indicates. The flood of American rice in Haiti is not only economically violent for Haitian farmers, but also violent for the long-term health of Haitian consumers.