Rice is one of the most versatile and popular foods on Italian tables. Among the numerous varieties available, from Arborio to Basmati, via Vialone Nano and Jasmine, each stands out for unique characteristics that make it more or less suitable for different preparations. Among all these varieties, Carnaroli occupies a special place: it is in fact considered an excellent choice for the preparation of risottos. But not all Carnaroli rice on sale is the same.
After testing Basmati rice, discovering traces of pesticides and mycotoxins in 8 products, Altroconsumo analyzed 15 brands of Carnaroli available in Italian supermarkets. This time too, the results held some surprises, with significant differences between the various brands and even one product rejected for being non-compliant.
Let’s find out the ranking right away.
The ranking of Carnaroli rice
Here are the results of the test conducted by Altroconsumo on Carnaroli rice. As usual, the magazine’s experts highlight the best of the test, the excellent quality products but also the best purchases, i.e. the one that offers the most advantageous quality-price ratio.
Excellent quality:
Good quality:
Low quality:
Failed:
What they found in Carnaroli rice
There is good news when it comes to food safety. The Altroconsumo laboratories examined the levels of cadmium and arsenic, substances that rice naturally tends to accumulate during growth in contact with soil and water. The results show generally low values and no violation of legal limits: in half of the samples cadmium was not even detected, while arsenic always remained below the safety thresholds. An important improvement compared to previous tests, which testifies to greater attention in cultivation.
Carnaroli rice generally also passes well the mycotoxin test, toxic substances that can develop in conditions of humidity and heat. The analyzes did not detect traces of aflatoxins in most of the products. Only in two samples – Delizie dal Sole (Eurospin) and Riso Principe – was the presence of DON (deoxynivalenol) detected, a mycotoxin in non-alarming quantities which does not compromise the safety of rice, but which still needs to be kept under control.
Even when it comes to pesticides, what the test discovered is positive: the majority of the Carnaroli rice tested was free of residues. On Altroconsumo it reads:
the majority of the rices tested were found to be free of detectable residues, and where present they were non-prolematic substances and in minimal traces, well below the legal limits.
Altroconsumo then subjected the Carnaroli rice to a detailed analysis in the laboratory, verifying all the requirements established by Legislative Decree 131, the legislation that defines the quality standards of rice sold in Italy. Key parameters such as the percentage of broken, immature grains or grains belonging to other varieties were examined, because even minimal defects can affect the cooking, creaminess and yield of the risotto.
Precisely on these aspects some brands have shown significant critical issues: Curtiriso, Selex, Riso Scotti and Riso Principe do not respect one or more limits established by the law, and for this reason they receive a low rating and are positioned at the bottom of the ranking.
The most sensational case concerns Riso Principe, the most expensive product in the test, which “hid” a medium grain rice, devoid of the typical characteristics of the Carnaroli variety. A result that makes you think and demonstrates how a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality.
In addition to the laboratory analyses, the taste test was fundamental. The grains were cooked and evaluated to verify the cooking resistance, the al dente consistency, the ability to absorb seasonings and the final creaminess — all characteristics that make Carnaroli the excellent choice for risottos.
