Arsenic in rice: Amazon.com sued over alleged sale of contaminated product
FILE - Close-up of rice on a serving spoon. Getty Images
Amazon.com was sued this week over its alleged sale of various rice, following an unrelated recent investigation that found arsenic in 100% of rice samples.
Arsenic in rice
The backstory:
100% of rice samples tested in a recent investigation contained arsenic, with over 25% exceeding infant safety limits.
Cadmium, another toxic metal, was found in all but one sample, according to Healthy Babies Bright Futures’ investigation.
Healthy Babies Bright Futures is an alliance of nonprofit organizations, scientists and donors.
Dig deeper:
Precooked products like instant rice, parboiled rice and ready-to-heat rice may carry additional risks due to toxins created during processing or chemicals leached from plastic packaging.
Why you should care:
Both arsenic and cadmium are linked to serious long-term health risks, including neurodevelopmental harm, cancer, kidney damage, and reduced IQ in children.
READ MORE: Dangerous levels of arsenic found in US rice: What families need to know now
Amazon.com rice lawsuit
Big picture view:
Amazon.com was sued this week in a class-action lawsuit claiming it allegedly sold a wide variety of rice that was contaminated by arsenic and other toxic metals, citing HBBF’s investigation.
What they're saying:
"Amazon sold these Rice Products with alarmingly high levels of heavy metals to an intended consumer audience that includes children, with no warning whatsoever about the dangers of heavy metals. Reasonable consumers would want to know about the presence of toxins in any product, especially one that is intended for human consumption, such as the Rice Products at issue," the lawsuit reads, and accuses the retailer for deceptive business practices by way of omission.
The other side:
FOX Television Stations has reached out to Amazon.com for comment on the lawsuit and is awaiting a response.
How to cook rice to reduce arsenic
HBBF offered practical tips to significantly reduce arsenic exposure at home:
- Soak rice for 30 minutes or overnight, then drain
- Cook rice in extra water (6 to 10 cups of water per 1 cup of rice), then drain like pasta
- Avoid just rinsing—it does little to reduce arsenic
- Add iron-rich foods, since boiling and draining may reduce added iron in fortified rice
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a class action lawsuit obtained by FOX Television Stations that was filed in federal court in Washington state on May 23, 2025. Background information on HBBF’s investigation was taken from its report, as previously reported by FTS. This story was reported from Detroit.