white rice

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white rice

cereal grain

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

White rice is a cereal grain, specifically the starchy seed of the grass species Oryza sativa. It is a staple food for a significant portion of the world's population, particularly in Asia.1

Processing and Nutrition

White rice is produced by milling, which removes the hull and bran layers from the grain. This process significantly reduces its nutritional content compared to brown rice. While brown rice contains protein, fats, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, iron, and calcium, white rice is greatly diminished in these nutrients. Consuming a diet primarily of white rice without other food sources can lead to thiamine deficiency and the disease beriberi. To address this, some countries fortify white rice with iron and B vitamins.234

Global Importance

Rice is the second largest cereal crop globally and is cultivated primarily in Asia. Its cultivation is crucial for food security in many regions, with 95 percent of the world's rice crop consumed by humans.51

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human nutrition
Cereals
…rice is polished to yield white rice. People living on white rice and little else are at risk for developing the disease beriberi, which is caused by a deficiency of thiamin (vitamin B₁). Beriberi was formerly common in poor Asian communities in which a large proportion of the diet consisted…
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…rice is polished to yield white rice. People living on white rice and little else are at risk for developing the disease beriberi, which is caused by a deficiency of thiamin (vitamin B₁). Beriberi was formerly common in poor Asian communities in which a large proportion of the diet consisted…
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Poaceae
Economic and ecological importance
…rice, may be converted to white rice for a visually appealing but nutritionally inferior grain, with reduced protein and B vitamins. The thousands of rice cultivars supply the basic food for more than half of the world.
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…rice, may be converted to white rice for a visually appealing but nutritionally inferior grain, with reduced protein and B vitamins. The thousands of rice cultivars supply the basic food for more than half of the world.
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rice
Rice processing and uses
…bran as well is called white rice and is greatly diminished in nutrients. When white rice forms a major portion of the diet, there is a risk of beriberi, a disease resulting from a deficiency of thiamine and minerals. Parboiled white rice is specially processed before milling to retain most…
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…bran as well is called white rice and is greatly diminished in nutrients. When white rice forms a major portion of the diet, there is a risk of beriberi, a disease resulting from a deficiency of thiamine and minerals. Parboiled white rice is specially processed before milling to retain most…
Read More

cereal processing
Rice starch
…is normally prepared from broken white rice. The broken grains are steeped for several hours in a caustic soda solution, and the alkali is finally washed away with water. The softened grains are ground with more caustic soda solution, and the resulting mass is settled or submitted to centrifugation in…
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…is normally prepared from broken white rice. The broken grains are steeped for several hours in a caustic soda solution, and the alkali is finally washed away with water. The softened grains are ground with more caustic soda solution, and the resulting mass is settled or submitted to centrifugation in…
Read More