Sushi Rice Lawsuit Alleges Contaminated Rice

Farmer’s Rice Cooperative (FRC), a company that is responsible for over 20 percent of the rice crop in California, is being accused of knowingly mixing contaminated rice with edible rice, and selling the mix to thousands of grocery stores and restaurants throughout California. Moreover, they have allegedly been doing it for years.

The sushi rice lawsuit claims that restaurant and store owners were led to believe they were buying U.S. No. 1 Extra Fancy rice, sold under the names of New Variety, New Rose and Imperial Rose, but were actually being sold “flush,” or tainted goods.

In this case, the contaminated sushi rice lawsuit alleges that FRC would “allow substances, such as insects, rodents and their soiling, bird remains and black mold to be present in its processed rice.”

According to the grievance, the rice that stores, restaurants and consumers received was not edible.

The sushi rice lawsuit says, “disposing flush rice by blending it with food-grade rice unfairly allowed defendants to obtain a profit from rice that could not be legally sold for human consumption.”

Farmer’s Rice Cooperative said that the claims are simply not true. In a statement FRC released, they state, “These claims are absurd. We have been in business since 1944 and sell rice to the most quality conscious customers in the world. Our rice is as safe as it gets.”

FRC representatives have agreed to meet with the group behind the lawsuit.

Food at Risk

With ever growing outbreaks of salmonella and E.Coli, food safety is never far from the public’s eye. And food contamination is a big deal as it not only affects our health, it has the potential to kill.

FRC’s sushi lawsuit is not the first time rice has been in the news for contamination.

Last year there was concern about arsenic levels in rice reaching dangerous levels.

According to the FDA, “arsenic is a chemical element present in the environment from both natural and human sources, including erosion of arsenic-containing rocks, volcanic eruptions, contamination from mining and smelting ores and previous or current use of arsenic-containing pesticides.”

It is present in many foods, like grains, fruits and vegetables because it is absorbed by plants from soil and water. Most plants don’t absorb too much arsenic as their only source is the ground. However, “rice is different because it takes up arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains.”

In 2013, to appease concerns, the FDA tested around 1,300 samples of rice. Results showed arsenic levels that were too low to cause adverse health effects in the immediate or short-term. However, as long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic are related to higher rates of various cancers, like skin and bladder, the FDA continues to study its impact and the long-term health risks.

Join a Free Sushi Rice Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a California restaurant or business that sold sushi within the past four years, you may be eligible to join a free class action lawsuit investigation.

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