The top rice exporter in California is defending a class action lawsuit for allegedly selling sushi rice that was contaminated with black mold, rat and bird droppings, and insects. The growing California tainted sushi rice class action lawsuit was filed in July.
The defendant, Farmer’s Rice Cooperative (FRC), exports more than 20 percent of California’s rice crop. The Sacramento-based company produces rice under brands including New Variety, New Rose, Imperial Rose, New Crop, and M401. FRC allegedly sold its rice to store and restaurant owners as sushi-grade, “flush” free rice. “Flush” is a term used in the industry that means anything that should be separated from the rice before being sold and consumed.
The FRC rice was as little as 15 percent sushi-grade rice with the rest being of a lower grade, according to attorney Brian Kabateck, who is representing plaintiffs in the tainted sushi rice class action lawsuit. The sushi rice lawsuit said the problem with the rice started with the way the FRC was storing and maintaining the already processed rice, “[allowing] foreign substances such as insects, rodents, and their soiling, bird remains, and black mold to be present.”
Because the company is the largest source of sushi-grade rice in California, countless people might have consumed the contaminated FRC rice. Kabateck said, “Every single person who has been to a sushi restaurant in the last few years probably has had contact with this kind of rice.”
Farmer’s Rice Cooperative claims that its rice is sushi-grade, free from the flush that the FRC class action lawsuit claims is present. “We have been in business since 1944 and sell rice to the most quality conscious customers in the world,” the company said in a statement. “Our rice is as safe as it gets.”
The California tainted sushi lawsuit investigation is continuing. and adding more plaintiffs and witnesses. The sushi rice class action lawsuit claims that FRC misled its customers.
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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