Amazon Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Certain Rice Products Contain Dangerous Levels of Heavy Metals

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A proposed class action lawsuit accuses Amazon.com, Inc. of failing to warn consumers that some of the rice products it sells allegedly contain “alarmingly high” levels of dangerous heavy metals.

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According to the 51-page lawsuit, recent testing of 145 rice samples by nonprofit Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) revealed that 17 products sold by Amazon are contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, lead and/or mercury—harmful neurotoxins linked to cancer and various cognitive, developmental and behavioral issues.

The rice products at issue in the Amazon class action lawsuit include:

• 365 Whole Foods Market Arborio White Rice;
• 365 Whole Foods Market Enriched Calrose Rice Medium Grain;
• 365 Whole Foods Market Sushi Rice Short Grain White;
• 4 Sisters Extra Long Grain Organic Brown Rice;
• Andy’s Charleston Gold Rice;
• Ben’s Original Whole Grain Brown Rice (parboiled);
• Ben’s Original Ready Rice Long Grain White Original (ready-to-heat);
• Carolina Plantation Carolina Gold Rice;
• Iberia Basmati 100% Aged Original;
• Khazana Premium Basmati;
• Marsh Hen Mill Carolina Gold Rice;
• Pride of India Indian White Basmati;
• RiceSelect Sushi Premium Short Grain Rice;
• RiceSelect Brown Texmati Signature Variety American Style Basmati Rice;
• Riso Scotti Riso Italiano Per Risotto Arborio;
• Royal Authentic Basmati Rice; and
• Royal Organic Basmati Rice.

Each rice product at issue exceeded the maximum allowable limit of arsenic—set at 10 parts per billion (ppb) in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency—with some containing arsenic at levels as high as 149 ppb, the suit relays.

In addition, cadmium was detected in each item, with two showing levels of the heavy metal in excess of the five-ppb allowable limit set by government agencies in drinking and bottled water, the complaint describes.

Moreover, most of the rice products at issue contained detectable levels of lead and mercury, the case states.

Despite HBBF’s findings, Amazon has marketed and sold the items with “no warning whatsoever” about the potential presence of toxic heavy metals, the filing contends. Indeed, nowhere on product packaging or in marketing materials is it disclosed that the items may be contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, the lawsuit charges.

As the suit tells it, medical experts and government agencies alike agree that “there are no known safe levels of heavy metals.” The case explains that even chronic, low-level exposure can accumulate over time and cause irreversible damage to human health, especially during critical developmental periods such as pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.

Consumers relied on advertising representations of the products and reasonably believed the rice was free from dangerous contaminants like heavy metals, the complaint argues. If Amazon had disclosed that the items risked containing the toxic substances, or that the company had inadequately tested its products, shoppers would not have paid as much for the rice or bought it at all, the filing alleges.

The lawsuit looks to represent all consumers who, during the applicable statute of limitations period, purchased any of the rice products listed on this page from Amazon in the United States for household use and not for resale.

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