Amazon Faces Legal Battle Over Rice Contamination Allegations

Amazon.com faces a class-action lawsuit over allegedly selling rice contaminated with arsenic and heavy metals. The company claims this issue is long-standing and publicly known, arguing it is protected by federal law from lawsuits about third-party content. The case raises health concerns over contaminated food products.

Amazon.com is urging the dismissal of a class action accusing the company of selling rice tainted with arsenic and other heavy metals. The retailer contends that the presence of such contaminants in rice is a 'decades-old, well-known issue' and argues the lawsuit lacks merit, as there's no claim of exceeding regulatory limits.

Filed in a federal court in Seattle, Amazon argues Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects it from liability related to third-party content, including rice sold by other merchants. The lawsuit, initiated on May 23, names multiple rice brands, such as Ben's Original and Whole Foods' 365, as being sold under such allegations.

Accusations stem from a study by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, revealing the presence of multiple heavy metals in rice. Plaintiffs Ashley Wright and Merriman Blum claim they would have made different purchasing decisions had they been informed of possible contamination, raising broader health concerns linked to such food products.

(With inputs from agencies.)