Amazon was sued this Friday by consumers due to the alleged sale of a wide variety of rice contaminated with arsenic and other “heavy metals.”
The collective claim proposed in the Federal Court of Seattle covers 18 types of rice sold through the retailer, including those of brands known as Ben’s Original and 365 of Whole Foods, owned by Amazon.
“Amazon sold these rice products with alarmingly high levels of heavy metals to an target audience that includes children, without any warning about the dangers of heavy metals,” says the complaint.
The demand occurred after a study by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, a non -profit organization that focuses on the exposure of babies to toxic chemicals.
That document found arsenic in the 145 samples of rice bought throughout the country, and 28% exceeded the limit established by the United States Food and Medicines Administration for children’s rice cereals.
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Cadmium was also found in all samples except one, and lead and mercury in more than a third of the analyzed samples.
Amazon, based in Seattle, did not make immediate comments.
Exposure to heavy metals has been associated with negative health effects, such as nervous system problems, suppression of the immune system and renal damage, as well as autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity in young children.
The 18 rice products include two original Ben’s and three with the 365 label.
The plaintiffs Ashley Wright and Merriman Blum said they would not have bought or would have paid less for the Iberia Basmati 100% Aged Original rice, one of the products, if they had known that the rice was contaminated or that Amazon never analyzed it to detect heavy metals.
Demand seeks not specified damage of at least 5 million dollars for Amazon’s alleged violations of Washington state consumer protection laws.
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Baby and black chocolate food manufacturers have also faced many consumer demands for the supposed presence of heavy metals.
The case is Wright et al V Amazon.com INC, District Court of the US, Washington’s West District, No. 25-00977.
With Reuters information
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