Does Uncle Ben's Rice Have Folic Acid?

November 14, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many grain products in the United States, including rice, are voluntarily or mandatorily enriched with B vitamins. This fortification process means that yes, many varieties of Uncle Ben's rice—now known as Ben's Original—do have folic acid.

Quick Summary

Many Ben's Original rice products, formerly known as Uncle Ben's, are enriched with folic acid during processing to boost their nutritional content. Ingredient lists on parboiled and Ready Rice products confirm the addition of this essential B vitamin. The fortification adds valuable nutrients, unlike unenriched rice, and supports a balanced diet.

Key Points

Enriched Products: Most Ben's Original (formerly Uncle Ben's) parboiled and enriched white rice varieties contain added folic acid.
Label Check: The term 'enriched' on the packaging indicates that the rice has been fortified with vitamins, including folic acid.
Not All Products: Some products, like natural brown rice, are not typically enriched and do not contain added folic acid.
Health Benefits: Folic acid in enriched rice is important for cell growth and is vital for pregnant women to help prevent neural tube defects.
Ingredient List: The ingredient list explicitly mentions 'folate (folic acid)' for enriched products.
Original Converted: Specific product examples like the 'Original Converted® Brand Long Grain White Rice' are confirmed sources of folic acid.

Understanding Folic Acid and Rice Enrichment

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a crucial B vitamin (B9) essential for cell growth and the creation of DNA. Public health initiatives in many countries have led to the fortification of staple grains, including rice, with folic acid to help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. This enrichment process involves adding several key nutrients back into the grain after milling, which removes much of the natural nutrient content.

How Uncle Ben's Rice Gets Its Folic Acid

Mars, Inc., the company behind the Ben's Original brand, utilizes a process called 'enrichment' for many of its products. This is especially true for its parboiled rice. The parboiling process involves steaming the rice while it's still in the husk, which forces some of the nutrients from the bran layer into the starchier endosperm. However, to ensure consistent and high levels of nutrition, the company further fortifies the rice with vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, after milling.

Specific Products Containing Folic Acid

Not all products from the Ben's Original lineup will have the same nutritional profile. Consumers should always check the ingredients list on the packaging. Here are some examples of products confirmed to be enriched with folic acid:

Original Converted Rice: A staple product explicitly mentioning its enrichment with iron, thiamin, and folate (folic acid) on the ingredients label.
Ready Rice® Long Grain White: The convenient pouches also list folic acid among their vitamin and mineral additions.
Boil-In-Bag Long Grain White Rice: This version also contains folic acid as part of its fortification process.
Basmati Rice: Certain varieties, such as the Ready Rice Basmati, are also enriched with this vitamin.

The Labeling Difference: Enriched vs. Unenriched

For shoppers trying to determine if their rice contains folic acid, the packaging is the most reliable source of information. The term 'enriched' is the key indicator that the rice has been fortified with nutrients. Unenriched rice, such as certain varieties of brown rice, will not list folic acid in its ingredients. For example, while parboiled white rice is enriched, Ben's Original Brown Rice is often not, as brown rice retains more of its natural nutrients from the bran layer.

Comparison of Enriched and Unenriched Rice


Feature	Enriched White Rice (e.g., Ben's Original Parboiled)	Unenriched Rice (e.g., Many Brown Rice Varieties)
Nutrient Source	Fortified with added synthetic vitamins, including folic acid.	Contains natural folate and other vitamins from the intact bran.
Nutrient Profile	Provides a more consistent and often higher level of certain nutrients, such as iron and folic acid.	Nutrient content can vary; does not include added folic acid.
Cooking Time	Often parboiled, resulting in a quicker cooking time and firmer texture.	Generally requires a longer cooking time compared to parboiled white rice.
Nutrient Retention	The parboiling and enrichment process helps nutrients survive cooking better than unenriched white rice.	Retains nutrients from the bran and germ, but has no added folic acid.
Appearance	Typically a brighter, whiter color.	A brownish color due to the presence of the bran.
Consumer Benefit	A reliable source of specific vitamins for those with nutritional deficiencies or specific dietary needs.	Higher in fiber and manganese due to the intact outer layers of the grain.

The Role of Folic Acid in Your Diet

Folic acid is particularly vital for certain populations, including pregnant women, as it plays a crucial role in preventing serious birth defects of the brain and spine. For the general population, it contributes to overall cardiovascular health and supports the body's ability to produce and maintain new cells. The fortification of common foods like rice ensures widespread access to this important nutrient. Without this enrichment, many people might not get sufficient amounts of B vitamins from their regular diet alone.

Conclusion: Checking Your Specific Product

In short, many but not all Ben's Original rice products do contain folic acid as an added nutrient. This is primarily true for their enriched white rice and parboiled varieties, including many of their popular Ready Rice and Boil-in-Bag options. Always check the ingredients list on the packaging for specific nutritional information. For those seeking enriched rice, the word 'enriched' on the label is the most reliable confirmation. Those who prefer unenriched options, such as brown rice, should look for product labels that do not list added nutrients. Understanding the difference is key to making informed dietary choices based on your individual health needs. For more details on the company's commitment to nutrition, you can visit the official Ben's Original website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Folic acid is the synthetic form of the vitamin B9 (folate) that is added to Uncle Ben's (now Ben's Original) enriched rice during the fortification process.

Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9 found in foods like leafy greens, while folic acid is the synthetic form used to fortify foods and in dietary supplements.

Grains like rice are enriched to restore nutrients lost during processing and to prevent nutritional deficiencies in the population, especially for pregnant women, as folic acid helps prevent birth defects.

Generally, Ben's Original brown rice products are not enriched with folic acid because the nutrient-rich bran layer is left intact, unlike white rice. However, consumers should always check the specific product's ingredient list.

Yes, many of their brown rice products are unenriched. The product label will indicate if it is 'enriched' or not, so reading the ingredients list is the best way to be sure.

The most reliable method is to read the ingredient list on the product packaging. If it contains folic acid, it will be explicitly listed in the ingredients.

The parboiling and enrichment process used by Ben's Original helps the vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, be retained within the rice grain, meaning it is not significantly destroyed during typical cooking.

Yes, many Ben's Original products are naturally gluten-free. As a rice product, it does not contain gluten. The packaging or product description often confirms this.