My diet:

Brown rice syrup

No E-numberSweetenersOrigin: Plant
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Every diet

VeganYes

Brown rice syrup is hydrolyzed rice.

Gluten-freeYes

Rice does not contain gluten.

HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoNo

Brown rice syrup is a glucose syrup from rice.

Low-FODMAPYes

The sugars are glucose chains, not fructose or lactose.

The short answer
Brown rice syrup is rice starch turned into a glucose syrup. It is vegan and gluten-free, it spikes blood sugar, and it can carry the arsenic that rice takes up from the ground.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesSweeteners
Glycemic index98
Daily limitNot set
Also calledBrown rice syrup, Rice syrup

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Brown rice syrup is a food sweetener, not an E-number, in the US, the EU and Canada. The FDA has spent years on inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products, with a particular focus on foods infants eat. The syrup concentrates whatever the grain held. It is also a fast carbohydrate: the glycemic index sits near the top of the scale.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Brown rice syrup is less sweet than table sugar and thicker. Bar makers use it as a glue that hardens as it cools.

Where it comes from: Brown rice syrup is brown rice cooked with enzymes that turn its starch into a syrup of glucose and longer glucose chains. The grain is rice, so the syrup can carry the inorganic arsenic that rice takes up from soil and water.

Why it’s in food

  • Binds granola bars and crisped-rice treats
  • Sweetens baby snacks and puffs
  • Replaces corn syrup in a 'no corn' recipe
  • Adds a mild malt flavor

Often found in

Granola barsCrisped-rice treatsBaby puffs and teething biscuitsSome nut buttersVegan cookiesCereal clusters

Also listed as: Brown rice syrup, Rice syrup, Rice malt syrup

Health & gut impact

Blood sugarConcern

Brown rice syrup is mostly glucose and short glucose chains, so its glycemic index is very high, near 100.

Glycemic index tables for rice syrup

ArsenicUnder study

Rice takes up inorganic arsenic from soil and water, and a syrup concentrates the grain. The FDA's work on arsenic in rice is aimed especially at foods infants eat every day.

FDA, arsenic in rice and rice products

What can I use instead?

Tapioca syrup

Ratio: Use the same spoon

Best for: A glucose syrup from a root, not a grain

Maple syrup

Ratio: Expect a stronger flavor

Best for: A vegan syrup with a lower glycemic index

Related

More sweeteners:

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) E950Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, E950) is a zero-calorie sweetener approved in the US, EU and Canada. EFSA re-checked it in 2025 and raised its daily limit. It's usually paired with sucralose or aspartame to hide a slightly bitter aftertaste.Use in moderationAdvantame E969Advantame (E969) is an extremely intense sweetener related to aspartame. Regulators approve it, and the amount in a food is tiny next to the daily limit. It does not carry aspartame's phenylalanine warning at normal use.Generally safeAgave syrup (Agave nectar)Agave syrup is a plant sweetener that is mostly fructose. It barely moves blood sugar, and it is still sugar: skip it on keto and in a low-FODMAP elimination.Use in moderationAlluloseAllulose is a "rare sugar" that tastes like sugar but has almost no calories and doesn't raise blood sugar. It's keto-friendly and browns like real sugar in baking.Generally safe

Common questions

Is brown rice syrup healthier than corn syrup?

It is a different plant. It is still a fast glucose syrup, and rice brings an arsenic question that corn syrup does not.

Is brown rice syrup gluten-free?

Yes. Rice has no gluten. Check the rest of the bar, because oats or malt can sit next to it.

Is Brown rice syrup safe?

Use in moderation (52/100). Brown rice syrup is a food sweetener, not an E-number, in the US, the EU and Canada. The FDA has spent years on inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products, with a particular focus on foods infants eat. The syrup concentrates whatever the grain held. It is also a fast carbohydrate: the glycemic index sits near the top of the scale.

Is Brown rice syrup vegan?

Yes. Brown rice syrup is hydrolyzed rice.

Is Brown rice syrup gluten-free?

Yes. Rice does not contain gluten.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • Glycemic index tables for rice syrup
  • FDA, arsenic in rice and rice products