REMOVING HEAVY METALS FROM RICE PROTEIN MATERIAL
Rice protein concentrate precursor is combined with a chelating agent in an aqueous environment to provide a mixture of rice protein, water and chelating agent. The mixture, in certain embodiments, is maintained in a vessel at conditions sufficient for at least a portion of any heavy metal contaminants to be separated from the rice protein concentrate precursor and chelated. The resulting heavy metal chelate is separated from the rice protein to provide a rice protein concentrate having a reduced content of heavy metals.