Kroger Basmati rice contains heavy metals, class action alleges

Kroger Basmati rice class action overview:

• Who: A California consumer filed a class action lawsuit against The Kroger Co.
• Why: The plaintiff claims Kroger failed to disclose the presence of heavy metals in its Basmati rice.
• Where: The Kroger Basmati rice class action was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit claims Kroger failed to disclose the presence of heavy metals in its Basmati rice.

Plaintiff Mary Tomassian filed the class action lawsuit against Kroger on June 20 in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the lawsuit, Kroger has been selling Basmati rice that contains dangerous levels of heavy metals without warning consumers. 

Tomassian claims Kroger knew or should have known about the heavy metal contamination but failed to disclose it on the product’s packaging.

The lawsuit alleges Kroger’s omissions misled consumers into believing the rice was safe to eat.

Tomassian claims she and other consumers would not have purchased the rice if they had known about the contamination.

Kroger Basmati rice allegedly tested for dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium

According to the lawsuit, recent independent testing found Kroger’s Basmati rice contained 317 parts per billion of arsenic and 11.6 parts per billion of cadmium, both of which can pose serious health risks.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set the maximum allowable level of arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion, the Kroger class action lawsuit explains.

The presence of heavy metals is a material fact that would influence a reasonable consumer’s purchasing decision, Tomassian argues. She claims she paid a premium for a product she believed was of high quality and free of contaminants.

Tomassian seeks to represent anyone who purchased Kroger Basmati rice for household use and not for resale. The lawsuit brings claims for violations of California consumer protection laws, breach of implied warranty and unjust enrichment.

Tomassian is seeking certification of the Kroger Basmati rice class action, damages, restitution and an injunction requiring Kroger to disclose the presence of heavy metals in its rice.

Currently, Amazon is facing a class action for allegedly selling rice products contaminated with heavy metals, including arsenic levels as high as 149 parts per billion. 

What do you think of the claims in this Kroger Basmati rice class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Trenton R. Kashima of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC.

The Kroger Basmati rice class action lawsuit is Tomassian v. The Kroger Co., Case No. 2:25-cv-05608, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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