Ochratoxin A in rice sold in Lebanon and the UAE
What it found
Most rice samples from Lebanon and the UAE contained ochratoxin A above the limit of quantification, but the authors calculated that the amounts eaten with rice did not reach levels they consider a health concern.
The work was done on rice samples, not on people.
What they found
Ochratoxin A levels
Ochratoxin A was above the limit of quantification in 56 samples (53%) from Lebanon and 73 samples (58%) from the UAE. The average level in those positive samples was 1.29 μg/kg in Lebanon and 1.40 μg/kg in the UAE.
Samples over the EU limit
One sample (1%) in Lebanon sat at the borderline of the European Union limit, and two samples (1.6%) in the UAE were above that limit of 5 μg/kg.
Brown versus white rice
Brown rice had higher ochratoxin A than white and parboiled rice in both countries, but the difference was not significant. The authors link this to the bran layer in brown rice.
Certification and storage
Rice from facilities with a food safety management certificate had lower ochratoxin A, but this was significant only in the UAE. A longer time between packing and buying meant higher levels, again significant only in the UAE.
Grain length and origin
Long-grain rice had higher ochratoxin A than short-grain rice, and this was significant only in Lebanon. Packing season, packing country and country of origin made no significant difference.
Estimated intake
The authors calculated a daily intake of 1.27 ng per kg body weight in Lebanon and 1.42 ng per kg body weight in the UAE. Using the margin-of-exposure approach, they reported that these intakes did not indicate a health concern for kidney lesions or kidney tumours.
What the authors conclude
“According to our study, the OTA contamination of the rice sold in Lebanon and the UAE is not currently a significant public health risk.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the ochratoxin A contamination of rice sold in Lebanon and the UAE is not currently a significant public health risk.
- They advise regular monitoring to keep rice within ochratoxin A limits, and recommend that shoppers buy packaged rice brands that are food safety management system certified, from recognised food stores.
- They add that rice should be stored at home away from heat and humidity, and that future studies should look at unpacked rice and at how handling, preparation and cooking affect contamination levels.
How it was done
The authors wanted to measure ochratoxin A in packaged unprocessed rice sold in Lebanon and the UAE, and to work out how much of it people take in from eating rice. They say no study had done this in either country before.
They collected 105 rice bags from Lebanon and 127 from the UAE, covering all brands available, in March and June 2021. They measured ochratoxin A in each sample using a lab test called ELISA, and combined the results with how much rice people eat and average body weights in each country.
What it can’t tell you
- This study measured ochratoxin A in rice samples and estimated intake from average consumption figures. It did not follow people over time or measure their health outcomes.
- The intake estimates rely on average body weights and average rice consumption, so they may not reflect what any one person eats or weighs.
- The authors note that some results were outliers and that many brands did not share food safety certification information.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Lebanese American University, Lebanon; Qatar University, Qatar; Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates
The paper
- Title
- Exposure to Ochratoxin A from Rice Consumption in Lebanon and United Arab Emirates: A Comparative Study
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Hassan HF, Abou Ghaida A, Charara A, et al (2022). Exposure to Ochratoxin A from Rice Consumption in Lebanon and United Arab Emirates: A Comparative Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. doi:10.3390/ijerph191711074Free full textPubMed 36078789DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error