About
Rice bran is the nutrient-rich outer layer removed from rice grains during milling of Oryza sativa, comprising the bran layer, aleurone layer, seed coat, and part of the endosperm. It is used in food products as a functional ingredient, dietary fiber source, and substrate for oil extraction due to its dense profile of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive phytonutrients.
Safety summary
Rice bran is broadly considered safe for the general adult population and has GRAS status in the United States; it is rich in beneficial compounds including γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, and tocotrienols with documented anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering effects. A key safety concern is the potential for contamination with heavy metals (notably inorganic arsenic), aflatoxins, and pesticide residues depending on agricultural and processing conditions, with no universally harmonized regulatory limits for these contaminants specifically in rice bran. Raw, unstabilized rice bran is also prone to rapid rancidity, and its high phytic acid content may reduce mineral bioavailability when consumed in large quantities.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | EFSA FCM Panel (2024) assessed rice bran wax derivatives (oxidised forms) for use in food contact materials (PET, PA, PLA, PVC) up to 0.3% w/w; concluded not of safety concern for consumers at assessed migration levels. Rice bran as a direct food ingredient is not subject to a specific EU food additive regulation (it is treated as a whole food/ingredient), but contaminant limits (e.g., arsenic, aflatoxins) apply under EU Regulation (EC) 1881/2006.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Rice bran and rice bran oil regulated under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011; labeling of rice bran oil quantity in blended edible oil products is mandatory per Regulation 2.4.5(34).source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Rice bran extract affirmed as GRAS (GRN 884) by FDA for use as a food ingredient; no numerical ADI established. Mean dietary exposure estimated at 1.60 g/person/day for the U.S. population aged 2+.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Rice bran: Nutritional value, health benefits, and global implications for aflatoxin mitigation, cancer, diabetes, and diarrhea prevention, 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Rice bran as a potent ingredient: unveiling its potential for value-added applications, 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3EFSA. Safety assessment of the substances 'wax, rice bran, oxidised' and 'wax, rice bran, oxidised, calcium salt' for use in food contact materials, 2024. efsa.europa.eu
- 4PubMed. Composition, Microbiota, Mechanisms, and Anti-Obesity Properties of Rice Bran, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FDA. GRAS Notice GRN 884 Agency Response Letter – Rice Bran Extract, 2019. fda.gov
- 6PubMed. Rice bran constituents: immunomodulatory and therapeutic activities, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
