<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
In July I enquired on the list about enriched rice and received some
information which  I posted. Today a post from the CSA conference contained
the following :
 
>   Luckily I'd chosen to attend the session featuring George Reis,  the
>   Marriott culinary artist (executive chef) who had recently given
>   himself a crash course in GF cooking. The session was like hearing
>   from a delightful person who had just been on a cross-cultural
>   exchange program. We were laughing and clapping at everything he said,
>   but then, he'd already fed us several very tasty and attractive GF
>   meals, so we were a biased audience. When I write up my people
>   profiles, I'll include one on Chef George. Do note that he discovered
>   that some enriched rice is soaked in barley husks as part of the
>   niacin-enriching process. He chose to buy organic basmati (and
>   Texmati) rice for our meals.
 
In the last week I found 2 growers of organic rice.
These companies grow and mill organic rice. I called both of them and
spoke with them  briefly. They were very helpful. They both said they only
mill their white rice, nothing is added. I don't know if they sell directly
to customers for small orders. Lundberg said they had a nutritionist that
may be able to answer any detailed questions.
 
Lundberg 916 882 4551 california
 
Southern brown rice 501 684 2354   Arkansas
 
I found a mail order supplier that carries these products. For those list
members in the US,  you can probably find these brand name  organic rices
at the major health food stores or through other mail order suppliers.
The 800 number didn't work for me, it may not be in use for Canada.
 
mountain ark 800 643 8909  704-252-1221 north carolina
 
Mountain ark has a web site www.mountainark.com that contains a catalog.
 
 
The following is my original post from July :
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
I received a direct response to my post. The sender has given
me permission to post this to the list.
 
---- My original question was --------------------------
 
Does anyone have any information on how white rice is processed and
what may be added to the rice ?
 
---- The initial reply was -------------------------------
 
Polished Rice is sprayed with a solution containing vitamins and minerals.
The rice absorbs these nutrients.  A protective coating which does not
dissolve in cold water, but does in hot water is applied to prevent loss
of vitamins via washing and to distribute vitamins evenly by cooking.
 
After drying talc and ferric pyrophosphate are added to keep grains from
sticking together and then more protective coating is applied.
 
The protective coating is ethanol or isopropanol solution of zein, fatty
acids and abietic acid.
 
The vitamins are derived by methods in CFR21 which includes yeast
derivation.
 
---- I then replied with  -------------------------------------
 
Thank you very much for this detailed information. I am surprised at
how much is added, I thought rice was - well - just rice.
 
If you have the time , I have a couple of more questions.
 
Is it possible to get rice without theses additives?. I am of the
opinion that I should have a choice as whether I need and or want
additives in my food.
 
Will rinsing in hot water remove the coatings to any great extent?
 
---- I received the following reply --------------------------------
 
Hi:
 
Most states require enrichment of white rice.  Consequently all retail
white rice that I know of is enriched.  FDA sets standards CFR-21 for
enrichment, but the individual states decide to require or not require
it.  I doubt that you could find white rice, retail without enrichment in
the USA.
 
Enrichment of white rice is in the FDA Standards of Identity.  The idea
is that FDA decides what ingredients/processing aides and methods can be
used in whatever food.  The food is then listed on ingredient labels as
"white rice" or "caramel color" or "yeast", etc.  If the consumer wants
to know what is in "white rice", etc., she is then expected to go to
CFR21, Standards of Identity and read what is allowed.  Not all foods
qualify for the Standards of Identity.
 
Rinsing with hot water will help.
 
Obtaining  unenriched rice, retail in the USA will be very difficult.
You will have difficulty getting a processor to sell it to you before
enrichment as they could be breaking state laws.  Penalties can be
severe.