LITTLE ROCK AP A lawsuit filed Wednesday claims that Riceland Foods Inc. was involved in development of a genetically modified rice strain and delayed for months telling farmers that the rice had gotten into the food supply, news that led a number of nations to stop buying American rice.
Attorney Paul Byrd of Little Rock filed the lawsuit in Lonoke County Circuit Court, potentially on behalf of an estimated 4,000 state rice growers. Arkansas produces the most rice of any state. Byrd said the producers had to sell their rice for less to countries – including the U.S. – that would allow the modified rice on the market.
